🌐 From Distributed Platform to Global Impact

CAS iMAPS Summer School 2026

An invitation-only summer school connecting single-cell metabolic measurement, Raman-activated cell sorting, microbiome discovery and field applications across Qingdao, Beijing/Xiong'an and Shanghai.

📅 11–20 July 2026 📍 Qingdao · Beijing/Xiong'an · Shanghai 🎓 Tutorials · Workshops · Forums · Field Visits

Overview

A cross-city training journey built around the iMAPS platform

The programme combines academic lectures, instrument tutorials, hands-on experiments, field visits, thematic seminars and two Young-Scientist Forums covering agriculture, environment, biomanufacturing, biomedicine and the human microbiome.

3
Cities
Qingdao, Beijing/Xiong'an and Shanghai
10
Days
Lectures, workshops, travel, visits and forums
2
Forum Tracks
Agriculture/Environment and Biomedicine/Human Microbiome

Training Locations

A three-city journey across China

Qingdao · Beijing / Xiong’an · Shanghai — integrating platform training, field visits and thematic forums.

01 Qingdao

Platform Training & Instrumentation

Raman spectroscopy tutorials, FlowRACS hands-on training, Digital Colony Picker, and coastal field visits.

02 Beijing / Xiong’an

Field Exploration & Forums

Great Wall cultural visit, agricultural & environmental seminars, Fuxi Farm and Young Scientist Forum.

03 Shanghai

Biomedicine & Industry Interface

SIMM visit, biomedical seminars, industry engagement and closing ceremony.

Training Programme

Learn the platform, operate the instruments, and connect ideas to applications

The summer school combines iMAPS tutorials, Raman spectroscopy lectures, instrument workshops, data-analysis training, field visits and young-scientist forums.

🔬

FlowRACS / RamanEye

Raman Flow Profiling & Sorting

High-throughput single-cell metabolic profiling, phenotype-based cell sorting and bioprocess monitoring.

🧫

Digital Colony Picker (DCP)

Mass Parallel Single-cell Culture

AI-assisted phenotyping, laser picking and culturebank construction for functional strains.

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RAMS / EasySort

Multi-modal One-cell-one-tube Sorting

scRACS-Seq and scRACS-Culture workflows for yet-to-culture microbes, genomes and live isolates.

Schedule

Detailed programme overview

Updated according to the latest final schedule.

Session I · Qingdao (11–14 July)

11 July · Qingdao Hualan HotelRegistration and arrival support.
12 July · QIBEBT, CASOpening ceremony; keynote on iMAPS; Ramanomics instruments; Raman spectroscopy (Part 1 & 2); FlowRACS, RAMS and DCP application sessions.
13 July · Single-cell Biotech, QingdaoiMAPS data processing and analysis; hands-on experiments on FlowRACS, RAMS and DCP; group assignments and presentations; beach BBQ party.
14 July · QingdaoField visit to Vland Biotech R&D Centre; cultural experience at Laoshan Academy; Tsingtao Beer Museum; evening high-speed train to Beijing.

Session II · Beijing & Xiong'an (15–17 July)

15 July · BeijingCultural tour at Mutianyu Great Wall; visit to State Grain and Material Reserve Bureau Research Institute; transfer to Xiong'an.
16 July · Xiong'an Institute of Innovation, CASVisit to the labs and Fuxi Farm; three thematic seminars; Young-Scientist Forum for Agriculture, Environment & Biomanufacturing.
17 July · Xiong'an → ShanghaiTransfer by bus to Beijing South Railway Station, then high-speed train to Shanghai.

Session III · Shanghai (18–20 July)

18 July · SIMM, CASRegistration; seminar on Raman flow cytometry in eukaryotic cells; seminar on gut microbiota dysbiosis; visit to SIMM and its iMAPS platform; Young-Scientist Forum; closing ceremony and certificate awarding.
19 July · ShanghaiVisit to Viva Biotech; afternoon and evening free.
20 July · DepartureBreakfast included at the hotel; shuttle bus to the airport arranged based on participants' return flights.

About iMAPS

A global network for single-cell in-situ metabolic mapping

iMAPS (in-situ Metabolic Atlas Projects @ Single-cell) builds distributed Microbiome Metabolic Observatory nodes that connect metabolic sensing, functional cell sorting, strain mining and application-driven microbiome research.

More About iMAPS →

From metabolic observation to functional microbiome utilization

The Summer School introduces iMAPS as both a technology platform and a collaborative network, helping participants understand how single-cell Raman phenotypes can be translated into biological insight, culture recovery and real-world applications.

Metabolic Sensor

Measure single-cell metabolic states and functional heterogeneity directly from complex microbiome or cell samples.

Functional Strain Miner

Identify, sort and recover functional strains with desired metabolic, ecological or biomedical phenotypes.

Ecological Restorer

Support functional microbial discovery for soil, water, agriculture and environmental restoration scenarios.

Global Training Network

Connect young scientists with iMAPS nodes, shared workflows, cross-node collaborations and application-oriented forums.

Faculty & Participants

People behind the Summer School

The CAS iMAPS Summer School brings together invited participants, course instructors and organizing staff from the iMAPS network. This section provides a compact overview of the people involved in the programme.

More Details →
Participants

Invited students and early-career researchers.

Course Instructors

Lecturers and technical experts from the iMAPS network.

Organizing Team

Staff supporting coordination and logistics.

Visual Summary

Overview of geographic distribution, institutional network and participant composition.

Countries / Regions
11
Global coverage of participants
Institutions
21
Academic and research partners
Students
27
Invited trainees in the program

Contact Us

Questions about the invitation, logistics or coordination?

Please contact the organizing team for programme details, invitation letters, logistics, institutional cooperation or media inquiries.

Single-Cell Center

Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Contact: Mingming Sun

Email: sunmm@qibebt.ac.cn