SFB1551 First International Symposium in Mainz
From March 4–6, 2026, the Collaborative Research Centre SFB1551 – Polymer Concepts in Cellular Function hosted its First International Symposium at the Gonsberg Lounge in Mainz. The three-day meeting brought together researchers from around the world to discuss how polymer concepts can provide new insights into cellular organization and function.
The symposium featured an outstanding lineup of keynote speakers, including Simon Alberti, Anđela Šarić, Frank Jülicher, Sua Myong, Ben Schuler, Jan van Hest, Dora Tang, Ashutosh Chilkoti, Iva Pritišanac, Chiu Fan Lee, Jeanne Stachowiak, Andreas Herrmann, Shasha Chong, Danfeng Cai, and Birthe Kragelund. Through keynote lectures, contributed talks, and poster sessions, the meeting fostered interdisciplinary exchange between polymer scientists, physicists, and life scientists.
A highlight of the symposium was the poster session showcasing the work of early-career researchers. Poster awards—generously sponsored by the Max Planck Graduate Center—were presented to Eleanor Liu, Zahra Akbari, and Carolina Silva for their outstanding poster presentations:
- “In silico membrane reshaping by molecular condensate” by Zahra Akbari (Institute of Science and Technology, Austria)
- “Understanding the role of nuclear membrane-less organelle interactions in RNA processing” by Eleanor Liu (Johns Hopkins University, USA)
- “S100B modulates TDP−43 aggregation and phase separation” by Carolina Silva (University of Copenhagen, Denmark)
The full scientific programme of the symposium is available online:
View the Scientific Programme.
We extend our sincere appreciation to the scientific organizers, the SFB1551 organizing staff, and the many students and volunteers whose dedication and hard work made this event such a success.
We look forward to welcoming the community again in four years for the next SFB1551 International Symposium. In the meantime—stay tuned!
