Fluorescence Polarization Microscopy — CNRS Training School | November 2026 · Marseille, France
The Institut Fresnel (CNRS/AMU/ECM, Marseille) is pleased to announce the organisation of the ANF Fluorescence Polarization Microscopy, a CNRS “Action Nationale de Formation” dedicated to polarization microscopy applied to biological imaging.
Background and Motivation
Polarization-based microscopy has emerged as a powerful modality to probe molecular organization, structural anisotropy, and supramolecular architecture in biological samples — information that remains inaccessible to conventional fluorescence or brightfield imaging techniques. Despite its growing relevance in cell and structural biology, polarization microscopy is largely absent from existing national training programs. This school was designed to address this gap within the bioimaging community.
Scientific Programme
The training will combine theoretical lectures and hands-on practical sessions, structured around the following themes:
- Physical foundations of polarized light and light-matter interactions
- Major polarimetric imaging modalities
- Practical sessions on instruments available at the Institut Fresnel
- Biological case studies and discussion sessions with invited experts
The school will welcome approximately 20 participants over 4 days in November 2026 in Marseille.
Organization
The ANF is organised by Luis ALEMAN-CASTENADA, Sophie BRASSELET, Jean-Jacques HONORINE, Sébastien MAILFERT, Manos MAVRAKIS, Shizue OMI-MASSIEAU, Enzo ROMAGNE, Julien SAVATIER (Institut Fresnel, CNRS, Marseille). The event is supported by the CNRS Direction des Ressources Humaines — Formation (DRH-SDP) within the national ANF framework.
Call for Applications
The school is open to imaging facility engineers, life science researchers, and PhD students with a background in optical microscopy and an interest in polarimetric imaging techniques.
Registration will open shortly. Interested candidates are encouraged to follow this page for updates on the application process.
For further information, please contact the organising committee (sebastien.mailfert_at_fresnel.fr)
