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Plant developmental biology is rapidly advancing, driven by breakthroughs in sequencing, single-cell technologies, gene editing, imaging, and modelling. For over a decade, the International PhD School on Plant Development has provided a unique forum for young scientists to share their work, exchange ideas, and engage with leaders in an informal, inclusive and supportive setting.

After the challenges of COVID-19 and the closure of our former venue in Zellingen-Retzbach, we are pleased to announce that the meeting will continue in 2026 at a new location: Neustadt an der Weinstraße (https://kloster-neustadt.de/), centrally located and easily accessible across Europe.

As the 2026 organizing team, we warmly invite you to the 13th International PhD School on Plant Development! This edition will cover a broad range of key topics in plant development and early-career scientific growth, featuring:

Session	Keynote
Root Development	Bert De Rybel, VIB Ghent, BE
Shoot and Leaf Development	Chris Whitewoods, SCLU Cambridge, GB
Reproductive Development I	André Marques, MPI Cologne, DE
Reproductive Development II	Sara Simonini, UZH Zurich, CH
Evolutionary Developmental Biology	Isabel Monte, ZMBP Tubingen, DE
Developmental Mechanics and Modelling	Charlotte Kirchhelle, ENS Lyon, FR
Development-Environment Interactions I	Charles Melnyk, SLU Uppsala, SE
Development-Environment Interactions II	Marie Barberon, University of Geneva, CH
Development-Pathogen Interactions	Yan Ma, GMI Vienna, AT
Crop Development	Sebastian Soyk, University of Lausanne, CH
Career Development	representatives from outside academia

The PhD School welcomes all interested researchers, with a focus on PhD students and early-career scientists within two to three years of completing their doctorate. Participation is limited to 45 attendees; if oversubscribed, selection will be based on submitted abstracts.

The program includes 11 thematic sessions, each opened by an internationally recognized plenary speaker, followed by two short talks from young researchers chosen from submitted abstracts. Early-career scientists will also serve as session chairs. Two poster sessions will offer additional opportunities for informal discussion.

We aim to keep costs low through support from academic and industrial sponsors. The meeting fee will be approximately €350, covering accommodation, meals, and a wine tasting with dinner at a traditional Neustadt winery. After registering, participants will receive confirmation and payment details.

We are committed to making the 2026 PhD School both scientifically stimulating and socially enjoyable, and we hope it will spark new collaborations and friendships.

We look forward to welcoming you to Neustadt in September 2026!

Arp Schnittger, Moritz Nowack, Michael Raissig

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Registration

Register by June 30^th, 2026

Here you can register and find details regarding abstract submission and payment of registration fees.

The registration fee is €350.- for students and postdocs and includes board, lodging and the social event.

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Speakers

Marie Barberon (University of Geneva, Switzerland)

Chris Whitewoods (SLCU, United Kingdom)

Yan Ma (GMI Vienna, Austria)

Charlotte Kirchhelle (ENS Lyon, France)

Sebastian Soyk (University of Lausanne, Switzerland)

Sara Simonini (University of Zürich, Switzerland)

Bert De Rybel (VIB Ghent, Belgium)

Isabel Monte (ZMPB Tübingen, Germany)

André Marques (MPI Cologne, Germany)

Charles Melnyk (SLU Uppsala, Sweden)

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Dates

September 23^rd – 25^th, 2026,

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Venue and Location

Kloster Neustadt, Germany; https://kloster-neustadt.de/

close to Mannheim and Frankfurt

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Target Audience

PhD students and early-career postdocs

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Social Event

Dinner & wine tasting at a local winery

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Code of Conduct

We are dedicated to providing a harassment-free conference experience for everyone; regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, nationality, race, or religion. We do not tolerate harassment of conference staff, volunteers, presenters, attendees, and participants in any form. Conference participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the conference, without a refund, at the discretion of the conference organizers.

This Code of Conduct applies during the entire conference and in any conference associate space, online or otherwise. Which includes, but is not limited to: the conference venue, presentation spaces, exhibition hall, evening gatherings, and chat channels.

Harassment includes offensive verbal comments related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, nationality, race, religion, sexual images in public spaces, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording without permission, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention. Participants asked to stop any harassing behaviour are expected to comply immediately.

Sexual language and imagery is not appropriate at this conference. Speakers and chat participants should not use sexualised images, language, or other material.

If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of conference staff immediately. We will be happy to help participants contact local law enforcement or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment or intimidation to feel safe for the duration of the conference. We value your attendance.

This Code of Conduct is based on https://opensource.org/events-code-of-conduct, which is based on the template found here, https://geekfeminism.wikia.org/wiki/Conference_anti-harassment/Policy and the one at https://seagl.org/code_of_conduct.html and is available under the Creative Commons Zero License.

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Organisers

Arp Schnittger (University of Hamburg, Germany)

Moritz Nowack (VIB Ghent, Belgium)

Michael Raissig (University of Bern, Switzerland)

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Sponsors

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