Skip to main content
Search
Loading

2026 Joint Symposium + Workshops

 

Symposium

Jointly hosted on June 25, 2026 by the NSF EMBRIO Biology Integration Institute, the NSF RECODE project at the University of Notre Dame, and the newly formed ND-MBI (Notre Dame Morphogenetic Bioengineering Institute), this symposium, and it's associated workshops (bottom of page), brings together visionary researchers working at the intersection of mechanobiology, morphogenesis, physiology and mechanics, and AI in biology. The symposium aims to foster collaboration and explore transformative ideas in understanding how multicellular systems coordinate signals across spatial and temporal scales to build, maintain, and repair complex tissues.

By integrating cutting-edge experimental approaches—including advanced imaging, organoid platforms, and quantitative biosensors—with AI-enhanced computational modeling and predictive "digital twin" frameworks, the symposium will showcase interdisciplinary advances that bridge developmental biology, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. Featuring plenary sessions, a trainee poster session, and panel discussions on image analysis, the symposium is designed to catalyze new partnerships and define emerging directions in morphogenetic bioengineering with vast translational potential for wound healing, cancer biology, and precision health applications.

Symposium Poster (PDF)

Registration Deadline June 5th for Symposium and Associated Workshops (Notre Dame Conferences site - further registration details below)

 

  • Symposium Schedule (Tentative Schedule-at-a-glance)

  • Speakers (PDF Speaker Booklet)
    Featured Speakers: Mark Alber, Sharon Gerecht, Ed Munro, Noah Mitchell, Mary Mullins, Jitao Zhang

    Lightning Talks: Nilay Kumar, Linlin Li, Maria Unger, Shulan Xiao, Weiwei Zhang 

  • Science of Imaging Innovators Panel (TBA)

  • Research Poster Session (Submit Abstracts no later than June 7th). Online abstract submission site. Note: poster boards are 46 " wide and 64" high

 

Registration Details: deadline June 5th: https://cvent.me/Y0naAE

  • EMBRIO or RECODE MEMBERS, or Purdue and Notre Dame Students and Postdocs: NO REG OR LODGING* FEE, $15 only for event T-Shirt (Materials Fee)
    • *EMBRIO students are asked to share lodging with another student of same gender

  • Non-EMBRIO, Non-RECODE project, Non-Symposium speakers
    • $75 for workshops only,
    • $100 symposium only,
    • $150 for All. Outside attendees must make own lodging reservation and pay for own lodging.
  • Non-EMBRIO, Non-RECODE, Non-Notre Dame Undergrad, Grad Student, or Postdoc can apply for registration fee waiver to laddb@purdue.edu, Symposium/Wkshop Fee Waiver.
  • Spouse rate for Symposium only: $75.

 

Lodging
The primary lodging for the event is Morris Inn (use this link to get the room block and event rate for the symposium: Closes after June 5th, no exceptions) on Notre Dame's campus. EMBRIO and RECODE members and invited guest speakers have their bookings covered through the registration process. All others will need to book their own accommodations directly with Morris Inn (Use this link to receive event rate).  Questions about lodging should be directed to Morris Inn.

Sponsors
We kindly acknowledge the Bioengineering and Life Sciences Initiative (BELS) at University of Notre Dame, and Berthiaume Institute for Precision Health (BIPH) at University of Notre Dame for their additional support of this symposium and associated workshops. EMBRIO and RECODE funding through the National Science Foundation, and ND-MBI funding from BELS, enables us to offer this event. 

To contribute to or support the symposium, please contact organizing committee members by emailing EMBRIO Managing Director at Purdue (laddb@purdue.edu), the RECODE PI at Notre Dame (dputra1@nd.edu), or the Morphogenetic Bioengineering Institute PIs at Notre Dame (jzartman@nd.edu or dputra1@nd.edu).

 

Training and Team Workshops

T4CT (Tools4Cells&Tissues) Design Challenge Workshop, June 23-24 all day

Participants will engage in small teams of experimentalists and computationalists (students, postdocs, faculty) in a Design-Build-Test-Learn challenge using recent research biological data and images. Team formation and initial overview and data access will occur prior to the workshop to allow for initial discussion and team planning. Specific problems and data examples for each project will be posted in May. The workshop is guided by Faculty Thrust Project Leaders from EMBRIO Institute, and the RECODE Project at Notre Dame.

 

Concurrent mini-workshops available Monday afternoon, June 22nd

These workshops will provide new tools, methods, and insights that could be useful during the full design challenge workshop.

Mini-Workshop:  AI Applications for Biological Image Analysis and Parameter Optimization, Monday, June 22nd (1 - 5pm) 

This four hour workshop will introduce participants to practical AI methods for biological research, with a focus on image analysis using deep learning and Cellpose, and parameter optimization using invertible neural networks (INNs) and Bayesian optimization.

Lead instructors: Senior Research Scientists, Linlin Li and Nilay Kumar, Purdue University. View full workshop details and agenda (PDF).

Mini-Workshop: From Pixels to Pipelines: Practical Image Analysis with Fiji/ImageJ, Monday June 22nd (1-5pm)

This hands-on workshop introduces participants to practical image analysis using Fiji / ImageJ, moving from fundamental imaging concepts to reproducible analysis pipelines. 

Lead instructor: David Gazzo, Ph.D. Candidate, Zartman Lab, Notre Dame. View full workshop details and agenda (PDF)