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2026 EMSL Summer School
July 27 - 31, 2026

Advanced Methods for Understanding Critical Minerals and Materials Biogeochemistry

July 27-31, 2026
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and online via Zoom

 

The United States is focused on increasing and strengthening a domestic supply of critical minerals and materials (CMMs) to provide the nation with energy independence and sustainable energy technologies. During the 2026 EMSL Summer School, students will benefit from EMSL's deep expertise in biogeochemistry to better understand methods for uncovering the molecular properties and behavior of CMMs. 

Black background with various microscope images of microbes and metals. The inset microscope pictures are surrounded by a gear-like image.

Topics include:

  • Imaging methods for understanding metals behavior and extractability in mineral-dominated and soil-plant systems
  • Organics and mineral analysis to understand metal behavior
  • Pore-scale micromodels and workflows
  • Multi-omics workflows
Event description

EMSL Summer School is an exclusive week-long learning opportunity held annually for graduate students, and postdoctoral and early-career researchers. Twenty-five students are competitively selected through a formal application process to attend in-person. EMSL will pay for student airfare, lodging, and transportation to-and-from the hotel and campus. Meals and other incidentals are not included. 

During the morning sessions, students hear from national laboratory, academic, and industry experts. The afternoon sessions are reserved for practical and application-based learning provided by our world-class researchers. Students are also provided opportunities to network with one another and with PNNL and EMSL experts.

Students unable to attend in-person, but are interested in learning more about the Summer School topic, are welcome to join the event virtually. Morning presentations are available to a worldwide audience for free via Zoom. 

*Student applications and virtual registration will open in early 2026.*

 

*Student applications and virtual registration will open in early 2026.*

*Student applications will open in early 2026.*

Graduate students, and post doctoral and early-career researchers, interested in this opportunity will need to submit the following in a single PDF:

  • a one-page letter describing the reasons why you would like to attend 
  • a curriculum vitae (CV)
  • a copy of your unofficial transcript 
  • a letter of recommendation