The 2026 PhD Symposium at Empa, Switzerland, themed "From Lab to Life: Interdisciplinary Steps to Real Life Change," aims to empower researchers to share their science beyond the laboratory. This year's focus is on the art of connection: explaining complex ideas in accessible ways, building networks that spark collaboration, and turning small insights into meaningful contributions for society.

PhD students are invited to present their research exploring effective strategies to engage diverse audiences, from industry partners to the public. Through a combination of presentations and interactive sessions, the symposium will highlight how Empa’s cutting-edge science transcends disciplinary boundaries and creates real-world impact.

Join us to strengthen your communication skills, expand your network, and reflect on how to bring your research from lab to life!

Participants who would like to contribute with a presentation or poster are requested to submit an abstract according to the guidelines. The guidelines and template are available on the website, www.empa.ch/phd-symposium. Do not forget to indicate your preference for a poster/presentation.

Every abstract will be considered, and based on equal distribution of themes, the selection will be made. If the abstract is selected, the author will be notified.

Oral presentations are restricted to 13 min, followed by 7 min of discussion. Make sure you provide a clear introduction to the topic to guide the audience.

Posters are expected to have an A0 size format (841 mm × 1189 mm) in portrait.

The scientific image can be submitted  by email () before: 20 January 2026 (23:59 CET).

08:00–08:30         Registration and Coffee
08:30–10:10         Morning Session
10:10 –11:15        Poster Session and Coffee
11:15 –12:25        Morning Session continued
12:25 –13:30        Lunch Break
13:30 –15:30        Afternoon Session
15:30 –16:30        Poster Session and Coffee
16:30 –17:50        Afternoon Session continued
17:50 –19:00        Closing Ceremony and Apero

The detailed program schedule can be found here.

Abstracts