This year's Summer School took place under slightly different circumstances. Due to financial challenges, the event was held at the university instead of at an external venue. Although the unusually high summer temperatures challenged us during the two days, we were fortunate to have a well air-conditioned seminar room that provided a comfortable environment for our scientific program.

The Summer School brought together 30 PhD students for two days of engaging scientific exchange. The program featured a series of talk sessions and poster presentations, giving participants the opportunity to present their research, learn about the work of their colleagues, and engage in stimulating scientific discussions.

To balance the scientific program, participants took part in a series of team games. Four teams competed against each other in four different challenges that tested not only their skills but also their teamwork and creativity. The games provided a welcome opportunity to connect with fellow researchers in a relaxed and enjoyable setting.

A special highlight was the hands-on workshop offered by Cytiva, in which ten participants had the opportunity to gain practical experience with the ÄKTA system. The workshop provided valuable insights into the instrument's setup, operation, and applications. We sincerely thank Cyiva. for making this excellent learning opportunity possible.

We were also delighted to welcome Dr. Roberta Benedetto as our guest speaker. In an inspiring career talk, she shared her career journey after finishing her PhD, discussing both the factors that supported her progress and the challenges she encountered along the way. She also provided practical advice for job searching within and beyond academia, reflected on the differences she experienced working in contract research organizations (CROs), universities, and private companies, and shared valuable insights into aligning personal growth with professional development. 

Of course, our traditional Summer School awards were once again presented. Congratulations to Alice Stephan (Biomedical Imaging) who received the Best Poster Award, and to Yao Zhang (Human Anatomy and Embryology) who won the Best Talk Award. Congratulations also to our Best Questioners, Moritz Dobrowitsch, Lea Fromm, Naveed Anjum, Lars André Jager, and Iris Gringel whose thoughtful questions contributed greatly to the scientific discussions throughout the event.

We congratulate all award winners and thank every participant for contributing to two successful and enjoyable days. Despite this year's campus setting, the Summer School once again provided an excellent platform for scientific exchange, networking, and building new connections.

We hope that next year we will once again have the opportunity to meet outside of Regensburg for another memorable Summer School.