by Anna Stradner, Lund University, Sweden
The COMMONS/LINXS/SoftComp Workshop on Phase Separation, Condensation and Self-Association in 2D and 3D: From Basic Principles to Applications in Life Sciences took place the LINXS Institute of Advanced Neutron and X-ray Science, Lund, Sweden, from 24 to 26 August 2026. Jointly organized by the COMMONS Center of Excellence (Lund), LINXS, and SoftComp , the workshop attracted more than 100 participants from 15 countries across Europe, North America, South America, and Asia, including Japan.
Participants of the COMMONS/LINXS/SoftComp Workshop LLPS2026, Lund, Sweden, August 2026.
Copyright: LINXS/Mia Lindström
Interest in the meeting was tremendous, and registration had to be closed well before the announced deadline due to the high number of applications. The scientific programme included 11 keynote and invited presentations by leading international researchers, complemented by 12 contributed talks highlighting recent advances in the field.
The workshop opened with a keynote lecture by Prof. Clifford Brangwynne (Princeton University), who had also participated as a lecturer in the preceding PhD Summer School. His pioneering research on biomolecular condensates and liquid-liquid phase separation has helped shape this rapidly expanding research area and provided an inspiring opening to the scientific programme. Scientific contributions covered a broad range of topics, from theoretical modelling and computer simulations to advanced experimental techniques and biological applications.
A particular highlight was the poster programme, featuring around 30 posters and a dedicated poster-pitch session in which presenters introduced their work before the poster session. This format stimulated lively discussions and contributed to the highly interactive atmosphere of the meeting.
The workshop followed directly after the accompanying PhD Summer School, creating valuable opportunities for interaction between early-career and established researchers. Supported by SoftComp, the event provided an excellent platform for exchanging ideas, fostering new collaborations, and advancing research on phase separation, condensation, and self-association phenomena across disciplinary boundaries.
Organizers:
COMMONS: https://www.commons-center.lu.se/
LINXS: https://www.linxs.se/
