🌐 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.
Institutional Partners
The CAS iMAPS Summer School 2026 is funded, hosted and supported by the following institutions and partner organizations.
Funded by
Division of Advanced Biomanufacturing, QIBEBT, CAS
Qingdao Single-Cell Biotech. Co., Ltd. / eCyte, Inc.
Hosted by
Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT), CAS
Green Carbon Resources Utilization Committee, CIESC
Supported by
Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), CAS
Xiong'an Institute of Innovation
Academy of National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration
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 applications in agriculture, environmental science, biomanufacturing, biomedicine, and human microbiome.
3
Cities
Qingdao, Beijing/Xiong'an, and Shanghai
10
Days
Lectures, workshops, travel, visits, and forums
3
Forum Tracks
Biomanufacturing, 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)
Highly Parallel Single-cell Culture
AI-assisted phenotyping, laser colony picking, and culture bank construction for functional strains.
🧬
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 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.
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.
PARTICIPANTS & FACULTY
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.
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
News Center
Latest updates from the Summer School
Use this area for invitation notices, speaker updates, participant guidance, logistics reminders and post-event highlights.
Global young scientists gather in Qingdao for CAS iMAPS Summer School, powered by ramanomics
Read More →Accommodation
Accommodation has been arranged for all participants throughout the programme, with hotel details, room arrangements, and contact information provided below.
Read More →Transportation
Airport transfers, inter-city travel, and daily local transport will be arranged for participants according to the official programme, with detailed schedules and instructions provided below.
Read More →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