EMBO Practical Course: Structural characterisation of macromolecular complexes – 2026

December 12, 2025

Job Overview

Job Description

This course will take place at EMBL Grenoble.

Course overview

Recent advances in cryo-electron microscopy/tomography (cryo-EM/ET), super-resolution microscopy, and deep-learning-based protein structure prediction, combined with increasingly sophisticated sample preparation methods, have transformed structural biology. Solving the field’s most complex challenges will require researchers who can strategically integrate these powerful tools.

This course provides a comprehensive overview of modern structural biology methods, with emphasis on sample preparation, characterisation, and data integration.

Key topics include:

  • multi-subunit protein expression in bacterial, insect, and mammalian systems
  • isolation of native complexes
  • in vitro reconstitution of protein and protein–nucleic acid assemblies
  • biochemical and biophysical approaches to assess stoichiometry and homogeneity

This latest edition of this long-standing course features a refreshed lineup of speakers and topics, highlighting the strategic use of cutting-edge protein structure prediction methods, and recent advances in in situ structural biology. The programme aims to equip participants with the theoretical and practical skills needed to combine complementary approaches and apply them to contemporary structural biology research.

Audience

Advanced PhD students and postdocs, currently working on challenging projects in structural biology that would benefit form hybrid approaches.

Learning outcomes

Participants will learn 3D structure determination of macromolecular assemblies at various resolution scales, and strategies to integrate data from X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, SAXS, NMR, mass spectrometry, smFRET, and super-resolution microscopy.

Key topics include: • multi-subunit protein expression in bacterial, insect, and mammalian systems • isolation of native complexes • in vitro reconstitution of protein and protein–nucleic acid assemblies • biochemical and biophysical approaches to assess stoichiometry and homogeneity

DATE: 27 May – 3 June 2026

Apply by Feb 18, 2026

Link: https://www.embl.org/about/info/course-and-conference-office/events/mmo26-01/

EMBO Practical Course: Structural characterisation of macromolecular complexes