The ExFAB Summer School program is a one-week, intensive program at UC Santa Barbara designed to provide in-depth technical training to enable researchers to learn how to use and leverage ExFAB’s unique suite of instrumentation for their own research.
Applications are now open!
Program Information
Program Dates: July 27, 2026– July 31, 2026
Call for Applications Opens: January 9, 2026
Deadline to Apply: April 30th, 2026 @11:59PM
Estimated Date of Participant Selection Notification: May 7th, 2026
Eligibility: The 2026 Summer School is open to graduate students, postdocs, technical staff and faculty through an application-based process, with a particular emphasis CSU and other non-R1 researchers and individuals conducting research related to extreme microbes and microbiology.
The 2026 Summer School will focus on Automation in Biology and will teach participants the basics of creating automated workflows using Thermo’s Momentum Software as a testbed system as well as how to incorporate ExFAB instrumentation into research projects. Module topics include: data and automation, high-throughput microscopy, automated liquid handling, and metabolomics with mass spectrometry.
There is no fee or tuition to attend the ExFAB Summer School. Course materials, lodging and most meals are provided by the program.
Wondering what a day in the Summer School program might look like? Check out our schedule
The Full Stack Biologist: How Automation is reshaping R&D Pipelines
How automation is redefining the R&D pipeline. We’ll cover the transition from bespoke benchwork to scalable digital modalities, the essential automation toolkit for the modern scientist, and the AI-integrated currents steering the industry toward 2035.
What Microbes Want: Predicting Microbial Interactions to Design Microbiomes with the Web of Microbes Agent
Anticipation of broad applications in microbial cultivation, microbiome engineering, and environmental microbiology, with the agent’s capabilities further extensible through the integration of additional tools and use of rapidly improving LLMs.
Application Process
All applicants must submit a completed application form through the website portal prior to the application deadline. In addition to submitting the application form, the following documents are required to be considered for a position:
1. Statement of Interest
In 200 words or less, please describe your interest in ExFAB and expected outcomes for participating in the ExFAB Summer School.
2. Statement of Research
In 500 words or less, please provide a brief description of your current research and how it aligns with ExFABs mission. If applicable, include any specific techniques and / or instruments you would like to gain exposure to.