EMPSEB 31

We are thrilled to announce that the 32nd edition of the European Meeting for PhD students in Evolutionary Biology (EMPSEB) will be held in Slovenia! More details coming soon. Follow us to stay updated!

So many faces, one amazing EMPSEB31 community! 💚 A huge thank you to everyone in this photo for making EMPSEB31 so special. Want to get to know some of the people behind these faces? 👀 Head over to Instagram @empsebconf and check out our Participant Spotlights! 📸🔬

Thank you to Dr. Edyta Sadowska for an interesting keynote exploring how physiology helps us understand the strategies animals use to cope with environmental challenges. From bank voles to zebra finches, her research highlighted how metabolism and life-history trade-offs can shape adaptation. 👏🧬🐭🐦

A huge thank you to Wiley Ecology and Evolution for sponsoring four €100 poster awards, and to @physaliacourses.bsky.social for providing the Best Overall Poster presenter, Tim David, with a free course! Congratulations to all our winners and everyone who presented at #EMPSEB31! 👏🧬

🥉 Third Best Oral Presentation … we have Joint Winners! 🎉 Congratulations to Giulia Lin and Tim David for jointly receiving the EMPSEB Travel Awards for Third Best Oral Presentation! 🏆Each awardee received a €100 prize, generously sponsored by EMPSEB and Wiley Ecology and Evolution. #phd #EMPSEB

🎉 Congratulations to Temitope Oriowo for receiving the Evolution Letters–EMPSEB Award for Second Best Oral Presentation, with a €200 prize! 🏆 Temitope presented on population genomics and sex chromosome evolution in 𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘹𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘴. Thank you to Evolution Letters for supporting early-career researchers!

🎉 The AllGenetics EMPSEB €500 Award goes to Leopold Preuß, who impressed the audience with his presentation, "Of Bees and BOOMs – The evolution of a nutritional mutualism between Wolbachia and solitary bees."🏆 Thank you, AllGenetics, for supporting early-career researchers. 👏 #phd #EMPSEB #evolution

Thank you to Prof. Jonathan Henshaw for his engaging keynote, exploring how theoretical models can predict the evolution of diverging sex roles with anisogamy as the only initial asymmetry. It was also a pleasure to welcome back a fellow EMPSEB alumnus as one of our keynote speakers!

Our scientific writing discussion brought participants together to share experiences and discuss different aspects of writing and publishing scientific research. Thank you to Dr. Abderrahman Khila for leading the discussion and sharing his insights with EMPSEB31! #PhD #EMPSEB #writing #publishing

Workshop recap | Ethics in Ecology and Evolution A big thank you to Dr. Edyta Sadowska for leading such an engaging workshop on ethics in ecology and evolution. The interactive group exercises encouraged participants to consider ethical research as a complex, multi-factorial topic.👏 #ethics #biology

EMPSEB highlight | Birding A big thank you to Dr. Jonathan Henshaw for leading our birdwatching excursion! 🐦 It was a fantastic opportunity to explore the local biodiversity and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of Oberwiesenthal. #birding #EMPSEB #phdstudent

🕷️ A BIG thank you to Prof. Mariella Herberstein for a fascinating keynote about spider-ant mimicry. She also shared how collaboration within her research group plays a central role, because science is not just research, but its community. #EMPSEB #mimicry #togetherstronger #research #evolution

EMPSEB highlights | Poster Session From evolution and ecology to genomics and more, our poster session showcased the incredible diversity of research presented at EMPSEB31. Thank you to all our presenters for sharing their work. 🌍🔬

Dr. Abderrahman Khila gave a fascinating keynote on the developmental genetics of water striders, discussing how genes shape their distinctive long legs and the behaviours that allow them to compete on the water's surface.🌊 #EMPSEB #PhD #genetics #evolutionarybiology #developmentalbiology

EMPSEB 31 Highlights!🎉 We kicked off EMPSEB 31 with a thought-provoking Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) session led by Prof. Dr. Mariella Herberstein. A great way to begin 5 days of science and community! #PhD #Evolution #Ecology #DEI

Great week at #EMPSEB31 in Oberwiesenthal, Germany! I presented a poster on the evolution of a withanolide biosynthetic gene cluster in Solanaceae and gave a talk on contrasting evolutionary outcomes of anthocyanin biosynthesis: complete loss in Cucurbitaceae and pathway rewiring in Poaceae. 🌱🧬

🧬 EMPSEB 31 appreciates the support provided by the International Union of Biological Sciences and The Royal Society Publishing. #EMPSEB31 #PhDLife #EMPSEB

Supporting the next generation of experimental biologists 🧪 EMPSEB 31 is grateful for the support of The Society for Experimental Biology — an international scientific society dedicated to advancing experimental biology and fostering collaboration.

Precision meets innovation 🔬 EMPSEB 31 is excited to highlight the support of PyroScience - specialists in advanced optical sensor technology for oxygen, pH, and temperature measurements across biological and environmental research and industrial applications.🐜🐜🐜

Poster Prizes Is your poster ready? We have several prizes lined up from @physaliacourses.bsky.social & Wiley Ecology and Evolution!

🎤 Talk Prizes EMPSEB31 is around the corner… now it’s time to bring your presentation A-game 🔥Generous prize contributions will be available: 🏆 Best Talk – €500 from AllGenetics EMPSEB award 🥈 Second Best Talk – €200 from Evolution Letters 🥉 Third Best Talk – €100 from Wiley Ecology and Evolution

EMPSEB 31 is grateful for the support of the Deutsche Botanische Gesellschaft🌿DBG promotes plant research, scientific exchange, and the next generation of plant scientists. Join them and take part in their next annual meeting, Botanik-Tagung 2026! Abstract deadline: May 31st🌱 #DBG #PlantScience

🎭 Attending EMPSEB? Got a creative twist on science? Get a chance to win one of three Zymo-EMPSEB awards, all kindly provided by Zymo Research Europe. 🏆 Best Alternative Presentation – €250 🥈 Second Place – €150 🥉 Third Place – €100 Send us an email at empsebconf@gmail.com to participate!

🌍💻 Join our Invasion Genomics in R course, 12–16 Oct! Explore movement, adaptation & environment-driven evolution in invasive species. Recorded lectures, self-guided practicals & live support across time zones. Learn #Rstats & #Genomics from @angmcgaughran.bsky.social shorturl.at/Inn7j

Heading to EMPSEB31? We’re giving away five €200 prizes in a lottery for attendees who arrive by train (including to our official shuttle cities). The Company of Biologists generously funds the prize money for this sustainability initiative. Lower your footprint and get a chance to win €200. 🌍

✍️Good news! You can now request invoice-based payment directly in the registration form or via email 🚌 Planning to take the conference shuttle? Register because seats are filling up fast! ⏰ Shuttles will tentatively depart between 9–11 AM on June 8 (final details after registration closes).

We are excited to see participants getting ready for EMPSEB31! 🏃‍♀️ Registration opens March 9th. 🎉

Dr. Abderrahman Khila will lead the workshop Life in Academia, discussing topics related to navigating the publishing process, choosing host labs and projects, your training path, and reflecting on the steps toward securing future positions. Join us to explore academia beyond your own experience🌱

Empseb is simply the best. If you're a PhD student of evolutionary biology, do go there!

Ethics is not an add-on to science. 🧠💭 EMPSEB is committed to helping early-stage researchers strive for ethical practices in science. Dr. Edyta Sadowska will head a workshop on ethics in ecology and evolution and discuss the actions we must take to make our science responsible! ⚖️ 🧬🦦🌿

Worried you might miss the EMPSEB 31 abstract submission deadline? Fret not, because we have decided to extend the deadline! Send us your abstracts till February 15, 2026! Mark this one on your calendars so you don't forget!

Join EMPSEB 31 and Dr Jonathan Henshaw to explore the avian biodiversity of Oberwiesenthal! Jonathan, despite being a theoretician by training, is no stranger to some naturalism. With most European birds identified even by their calls, his casual birding skills would surprise even a professional.

Don't miss it! It's a really nice conférence, with and great organization team

Worried you might miss the EMPSEB 31 abstract submission deadline? Fret not, because we have decided to extend the deadline! Send us your abstracts till February 15, 2026! Mark this one on your calendars so you don't forget!

Every year, EMPSEB recognises the need for diverse voices in science academia. EMPSEB 31 brings to you an unmissable DEI seminar with Prof Mariella Herberstein! ESEB's Congress Attendance Aid 2026 promotes minorities in science to join EMPSEB. Apply now! Learn more here: empsebconf.github.io

Every year, EMPSEB recognises the need for diverse voices in science academia. EMPSEB 31 brings to you an unmissable DEI seminar with Prof Mariella Herberstein! ESEB's Congress Attendance Aid 2026 promotes minorities in science to join EMPSEB. Apply now! Learn more here: empsebconf.github.io

Do you have what it takes to win the coveted AllGenetics-EMPSEB award for best oral presentation worth €500 at EMPSEB 31? That’s surely worth a bit more pizzazz in your slides! Big thanks to @allgenetics.bsky.social for the award! Check out their molecular genetics services: www.allgenetics.eu

Do you have what it takes to win the coveted AllGenetics-EMPSEB award for best oral presentation worth €500 at EMPSEB 31? That’s surely worth a bit more pizzazz in your slides! Big thanks to @allgenetics.bsky.social for the award! Check out their molecular genetics services: www.allgenetics.eu

🔔 Reminder If you’re planning to apply for the ESEB Conference Travel Award 2026 or the Congress Attendance Aid (CAA) Grant from @eseb.bsky.social to attend EMPSEB31, don’t forget: 📄 Abstract submission deadline: 15 January 2026

🔔 Reminder If you’re planning to apply for the ESEB Conference Travel Award 2026 or the Congress Attendance Aid (CAA) Grant from @eseb.bsky.social to attend EMPSEB31, don’t forget: 📄 Abstract submission deadline: 15 January 2026

Excited for the evo-devo presentations!🧬

🎙️ Our final keynote is Dr. Abderrahman Khila from the Institute of Functional Genomics. Lyon, France. Using tools from transcriptomics to epigenetics, he studies how genes and development interact with selection to shape phenotypes. Our keynote lineup is complete!🧬✨ #EMPSEB31 #EvoBio #EvoDevo

🎙️ Keynote #3 🥁 Thrilled to welcome Dr. Edyta Sadowska (Jagiellonian University 🇵🇱) to EMPSEB31! Her work explores how evolution affects physiological and metabolic strategies in animals, from zebra finches to bank voles and tits. 📅 8–12 June 2026 📍 Oberwiesenthal, Germany #EMPSEB31 #EvoBio #PhDLife

🏔️ EMPSEB31 is heading to the mountains! This year we’ll meet in Oberwiesenthal, Germany (8–12 June 2026), a quiet mountain town in the Ore Mountains, right on the Czech border. Think forest trails, open skies, and fresh air. Join us for a week of science and fun!🌿 #EMPSEB31 #EvoBio #PhD

🎙️ Announcing our second keynote for EMPSEB31! Dr. Jonathan Henshaw (University of Freiburg) explores sexual selection, mating systems, parental care, and fertilization strategies using analytical + simulation models. 📅 8–12 June 2026 📍 Oberwiesenthal, Germany #EMPSEB31 #EvoBio #PhDLife #Mating

Looking forward to Prof. Mariella's talk!🕷️

Attention ECRs! Apply now for a Conference Travel Award from @eseb.bsky.social to attend @empseb31.bsky.social OR the upcoming @evolmtg.bsky.social in Cleveland 2026 📣 DEADLINE: 30th January 2026 eseb.org/prizes-fundi...

🦋 Ever thought about the artist behind those naturalist illustrations? Maria Sibylla Merian, a 17th-century German naturalist, worked when women were rarely recognized in science. Her timeless art now represents EMPSEB31 in the spirit of curiosity and observation! ✨🔍 #ScienceArt #EvoBio #EMPSEB31

We’re very grateful to ESEB for supporting early-career researchers through their Conference Travel Awards 💙 Opportunities like these help make conferences more accessible. We warmly encourage students interested in #EMPSEB31 to apply!