4^th International Graduate summer school -
Biophotonics '09

6-13 June 2009, Ven, Sweden

Group photo from Biophotonics '07

Scope

Over the past decade, optical methods and instruments based on light interacting with tissue have emerged as powerful techniques for bio-medical diagnostics, monitoring wide spectra of tissue function and pathology together with therapy.

The purpose of the 4^th International Graduate summer school Biophotonics '09 is to provide education for students at the highest international level within these areas. Moreover, by inviting renowned lecturers from all over the world, the educational program is held in an international atmosphere enhancing exchange of scientific ideas and technological advances within the fields of biomedical optics and closely related areas.

The 4^th International Graduate summer school Biophotonics '09 covers the following main areas:

• Lasers and their application in medicine
• Tissue optics
• Photodynamic therapy
• Optical tweezers and their applications in biophotonics
• Optical biosensors
• Molecular imaging based on optical methods
• Optical coherence tomography and coherence domain optical methods in biomedicine

At the summer school invited experts, at an international level, will give extended presentations reviewing these areas. Moreover, the attendees at the summer school will also have the opportunity of presenting their current research projects, results or ideas.
 

Who should attend?

The school lectures spans areas ranging from basic research to applied technology and therefore students and post docs in both the technical and medical sciences are encouraged to attend this summer school. 

The target group is primarily graduate students (PhD) and post-doctoral fellows within the main topics of the school, i.e., within the field of biomedical optics. Admission of a limited, small number of under-graduate students will be allowed.

Dr. Katarina Svanberg discussing with
students during Biophotonics '07.

Registration information and deadline

The deadline for applying to attend Biophotonics 09 has expired (the extended deadline expired 2 March 2009 at 17:00 CET).

We may be able to accommodate post-deadline registrations. However, post-deadline applicants must be fully self-supported financially, i.e., you must be able to pay the registration fee, see below. In case you wish to apply subject to this condition, please contact the summer school chairs directly.

Fee

The registration fee for participation, including accommodation, local transportation, and all meals is 11.000 SEK (excl. VAT).

Note on VAT: Applicants from universities, public and government organizations within the European Union (excl. Sweden) must be prepared to pay an additional VAT of 25% of the registration fee. Moreover, participants from the private sector in Sweden must also pay VAT of 25% of the fee. Finally, notice that participants from outside the European Union should not pay VAT.

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The 4^th International Graduate Summer School Biophotonics '09 is planned for 6-13 June 2009. In case you wish to receive news and updates about Biophotonics '09, please sign up to our e-mail list to receive our news letter.

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JBO special section

The Graduate Summer School Biophotonics '09 is pleased to announce that a special section will appear in Journal of Biomedical Optics (JBO) entitled "Selected Topics in Biophotonics: Photodynamic Therapy and Optical Micromanipulation for Biophotonics" comprising review papers and contributed papers from the school.

• Link to call for papers at JBO website
• Download printer friendly call for papers here

The special section comprises two review articles:

• Katarina Svanberg and Hubert van den Bergh(*), “Photodynamic therapy: Fundamentals and clinical applications
  (*) author to be confirmed
• Kishan Dholakia, “Optical micromanipulation for biophotonics” 

Manuscript submission deadline and publication

The manuscript submission deadline is 1 October 2009.

The special section is part of the JBO issue published July/August 2010.

Guest editors

• Professor Stefan Andersson-Engels, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
  stefan.andersson-engels@fysik.lth.se
• Research Professor Peter E. Andersen, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
  peta@fotonik.dtu.dk

Special section 2007/08

Following the school in June 2007, a special section is published in the Journal of Biomedical Optics (JBO) entitled "Selected Topics in Biophotonics: Diffuse Optics and Optical Molecular Imaging" comprising review papers and contributed papers from the school.

Audience at Biophotonics '07
(listening to Prof. Stefan Hell).

Evaluation & credit

Evaluation

When applying for admission to the school, each applicant must submit a short description of their research and results for peer-review. The description must comprise title, abstract, and a three-page summary (including title, applicant name and affiliation, body text, figures and references). The summary will be reviewed by the organizers and lecturers. Applicants are selected based on the outcome of this evaluation (peer-review).

When accepted into the school, each participant must prepare a poster presentation of his/her work (submitted description). The poster presentations are evaluated by the organizers and lecturers during two sessions at the school.

After completion of the graduate summer school, including preparation of a poster, presenting the poster, and attending the school, a diploma is issued.

Credit

Maximum credit points: 5 (five) ECTS points.

Completing school, 3 (three) points: The workload of the school is equivalent to three weeks full time work, i.e., three (3) ECTS points.

Additional points, 2 (two) points: Optionally, students may select to prepare an Internet presentation of one of the topics covered during the school. The presentation is evaluated by the organizers and lecturers and, if approved, published at the school web site. The work load is equivalent to two weeks full time work, i.e., 2 (two) ECTS points.

Students participating in the school will have to seek approval individually of the above-mentioned credit this with the university at which they are enlisted.

Previous schools

The International Graduate Summer School on Biophotonics is held on the island Ven and it is usually a huge success in terms of education, scientific exchange, and personal friendships. We, the organizers, would like to express our gratitude to the lecturers for taking time to teach at the school and spending time with the students. It is admirable that all lecturers participated without receiving any fee.

We also greatly appreciate the financial support and donations we received from various sponsors making this event possible. In particular, Hamamatsu Photonics is greatly appreciated supporting the Best Poster Award.

Finally, we extend our thanks to all participants for their enthusiastic contributions during the discussions following the lectures and especially during the poster sessions.

Links to previous schools

• Biophotonics '07
• Biophotonics '05
• Biophotonics '03
  • SPIE OEMagazine wrote about the previous school - view the article online

Organizers

The 4^th International Graduate summer school Biophotonics '09 is a joint effort between the Department of Physics, Lund University and Lund Medical Laser Centre in Sweden, the Department of Photonics Engineering, Technical University of Denmark and Center for Biomedical Optics and New Laser Systems in Denmark, and the European Network of Excellence for Biophotonics, Photonics 4 Life.

Professor Eva Sevick-Muraca during her lecture
at Biophotonics '07

Professor Wolfgang Drexler during his lecture
at Biophotonics '05
 

Professor Bruce Tromberg (right)
at Bio-Photonics '03