That’s a wrap on the 14th SCELSE Summer Course! From 22 June to 3 July 2026, SCELSE welcomed 13 PhD students & postdoctoral researchers based in the UK, Belgium, the US, India, the Philippines and Singapore for two weeks of immersive learning and scientific exchange.

Organised by Prof Stefan Wuertz, the course brought together SCELSE faculty and researchers alongside international instructors, including former SCELSE scientists who returned to share their expertise with a new generation.

“The Summer Course is about more than learning techniques. We want young researchers to understand microbial communities from different perspectives, learn directly from experts and, importantly, build scientific connections that continue well beyond these two weeks,” said Prof Wuertz.

“Perfect for all researcher levels, the SCELSE Summer Course offers expert-led, in-depth insights into microbial communities and interactions through highly interactive lectures, discussions and productive hands-on learning,” said participant Carl Angelo Medriano, Research Fellow at NUS.

“Returning to teach a course I once attended as a student is particularly meaningful. It shows how the relationships built through SCELSE can continue across institutions, countries, and different stages of a research career,” said Assistant Prof Lucinda Doyle at Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.

A highlight was a research trip to the St John’s Island National Marine Laboratory.

“Visiting SJINML gives participants the opportunity to take academic concepts and apply them in a real research environment. The field of study or research question may change, but many of the tools and approaches we use are transferable across disciplines. It allows participants to see first-hand how those methods can be applied to complex biological and environmental questions,” said Dr Stephen Summers, a SCELSE alumnus and instructor.

Prof Wuertz thanked everyone who contributed to the Summer Course, including:

• SCELSE instructors: A/Prof Kim Hie Lim, Prof Alain Filloux, Dr Rohan Williams, Asst Prof Laura Nolan, Dr Ezequiel Santillan, Prof Cynthia Whitchurch, A/Prof Sanjay Swarup and Dr Woo Yissue
• International and external instructors: Prof Ezequiel Marzinelli (University of Sydney), Prof Liang Yang (Southern University of Science and Technology), Dr Lucinda Doyle (Indian Institute of Technology Delhi), Dr Stephen Summers, Dr Viduthalai Rasheedkhan Regina (A*STAR Skin Research Labs), and Prof Wong Hei Sunny (NTU)
• Programme support: Sumathi Lechimanan for coordinating course logistics, Noorfadhila Binte Suhaimi for coordinating airfare and accommodation arrangements for international instructors as well as tea break catering for participants, Lau Soon Lay for coordinating financial matters for international instructors and Ivan Tan and Pauline Teo for publicity.