Organized by:
Christian Froekjaer-Jensen, King Abdullah University of Science & Technology
Chris Hammell, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Marco Mangone, Arizona State University
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This intensive two-week laboratory and lecture course is designed for advanced graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and primary investigators who wish to immerse themselves in the cutting-edge of research using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. For over sixty years, C. elegans has served as a transformative model system, leading to multiple Nobel Prize-winning discoveries in developmental biology, neurobiology, and gene regulation. This course proudly continues the tradition of the immersive, technique-driven C. elegans summer courses that have trained generations of leaders in the field, bringing this celebrated educational model to a new generation of scientists.
The curriculum is structured as a cohesive two-week narrative. The first week, "Foundational Pillars," will cover the core principles of classical genetics, genome regulation, embryogenesis, and germline biology that have made the worm an indispensable tool. The second week, "Research Frontiers," will build on this foundation to explore how these principles are being applied to dissect complex systems, including neuronal development, neural circuits and behavior, the physiology of aging, and systems-level metabolism.
A key feature of the course is the seamless integration of daily lectures from world-renowned faculty with hands-on laboratory modules. Participants will gain practical experience in essential modern techniques, including CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing, gonadal microinjection for transgenesis, advanced live-cell imaging of development and neuronal activity, RNA interference (RNAi), and quantitative bioinformatics.
The faculty comprises a diverse mix of pioneering leaders and dynamic early-career scientists from around the globe, ensuring that students are exposed to a broad range of perspectives and the latest research. A hybrid seminar format, combining in-person and virtual lectures, will allow students to interact with an even wider array of top investigators.
This course offers a unique opportunity for the next generation of scientists to train with the leaders of the C. elegans community, to master the powerful technologies defining modern biology, and to develop the intellectual framework needed to tackle the most pressing questions in genetics, genomics, and beyond.
Key Topics:
Classical and Reverse Genetics
CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing and Transgenesis
RNAi and Small RNA Biology
Embryogenesis, Cell Lineage, and Morphogenesis
Neuronal Development and Synaptic Function
Neural Circuits and Behavior
Physiology of Aging and Longevity
Metabolism and Stress Responses
WormBase and Community Databases
Advanced Microscopy and Quantitative Image Analysis
Bioinformatics and Genomics
Stipends may be available to offset a portion of the course cost. All participants are expected to stay for the duration of the course.
2026 FACULTY ROSTER
Julie Ahringer, University of Cambridge
Germano Cecere, Pasteur Institute
Abby Dernburg, University of California, Berkeley
Zhuo Du, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, CAS
Richard Durbin, University of Cambridge
Andrew Fire, Stanford University (Online)
Christian Froekjaer-Jensen, King Abdullah University of Science & Technology
Chris Hammell, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Oliver Hobert, Columbia University
Julian Ceron Madrigal, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute
Marco Mangone, Arizona State University
Eric Miska, University of Cambridge
Tai Montgomery, Colorado State University
Erin Osborne Nishimura, Colorado State University
Paul Sternberg, California Institute of Technology (Online)
Xiajing Tong, ShanghaiTech University
Marian Walhout, University of Massachusetts (Online)
Xiaochen Wang, Southern University of Science and Technology
2026 PRICING (INCLUDING TUITION, BOARD AND LODGING): 1400 USD / 10000 CNY
No payment is due until the selection decisions are made, but any applicant requiring financial support (i.e. stipends) should make that request in written form during the online application. The admissions process is need-blind, your financial situation will not be considered before admission decisions are made.