European Doctorate Network: Physics and Chemistry of Advanced Materials (PCAM) Summer School 2026

PCAM has a long-standing tradition of excellence in doctoral training, organizing successful Summer schools uniting experts and PhD students to address emerging topics in materials science. The proposed 2026 School will continue this tradition, offering a programme designed to combine cutting-edge interdisciplinary lectures and industrial perspectives.

Scope:

The European network PCAM (Physics and Chemistry of Advanced Materials), for more than 20 years, has connected leading universities and research centers to foster interdisciplinary training in physics, chemistry, and materials science. Through its regular Summer Schools, PCAM has provided generations of PhD students with a network to develop advanced scientific skills, exchange ideas, to engage directly with both universities and research centers. The success of the most recent edition, organized in synergy with E-MRS, demonstrated the network’s strong reputation and its capacity to attract high-level participants from across Europe and beyond.

The forthcoming PCAM Summer School 2026 intends to build on this tradition by offering a prestigious four-day programme designed to deliver cutting-edge education and interdisciplinary collaboration. The School will focus on frontier areas of materials science, including quantum materials, nanostructures, sustainable energy materials, artificial intelligence for materials design, and innovative semiconductors. The lectures will be given by internationally recognized experts from PCAM partner institutions, as well as other leading organizations. An emphasis will be placed on bridging the gap between research and industry, through the participation of a lecturer from the semiconductor sector, reflecting PCAM’s priorities in advanced technologies and sustainability.

Combining scientific excellence, industrial relevance, and educational innovation, the Summer School aims to equip participants with the competencies required to lead future developments in material science. By bringing together talented PhD students and renowned scientists, the event will strengthen the cohesion of the PCAM network and reaffirm its role as a driving force for internationally recognized doctoral training in Europe.

Hot topics to be covered by the symposium:

The summer school aims to give PhD students and postdocs an overview of most recent developments on advanced materials for future technical applications, both on methods to study fundamental aspects and in technologies to upscale those materials. A number of experts pioneering the field, both in materials development as well as development of new microscopic and ultrafast methods, will be invited as tutors.

• Nanophotonics / Prof. Asger Mortensen, SDU
• Quantum materials and emerging devices / Prof. Pitarke, Nanogune, San Sebastian, Dr. Antonino La Magna, CNR-IMM
• Nanomaterials and advanced interfaces / Prof. R. Nistico, Uni Milano-Bicocca
• Sustainable energy and green technologies / Prof. Franz Faupel, CAU Kiel, Prof. Jacek Stolarczyk, UJ Krakow
• Computational materials science and AI / Prof. Patrick Rinke, Aalto University, Prof. Bartosz Grzybowski, Center for Algorithmic and Robotized Synthesis (CARS), Korea
• Electronics and innovative semiconductors (with industrial collaboration) / Njal Petit, Danfoss Semicron; Dr. Ferdinando Iuculano, STMicroelectronics.