ABSTRACT CALL OPEN Season 8 Early-career researchers

Share your science with VGZT.

Submit a short abstract to present alongside a VGZT speaker.

Season 8 welcomes early-career research on peri-gastrulation development.

Submit your abstract

Season 8 includes two Early-Career Talk awardees

ABSTRACT CALL OPEN

At a glance.

Submit your abstract →

Audience: Early-career researchers
Scope: Peri-gastrulation development
Abstract: 150–300 words
Selection: Rolling · not ranked
Submission timeline: Early-bird deadline 20 Sept 2026
Second deadline 20 Dec 2026

ThenRolling until full
Recognition: Early-Career Talk Awards

After the second deadline, submissions continue to be considered on a rolling basis until available presentation slots are filled.

Who can apply

We welcome undergraduate and Master’s students, PhD students, research assistants, postdoctoral researchers, and other early-career researchers.

Projects should address peri-gastrulation development—such as cell fate, patterning, morphogenesis, signalling, embryo models, or self-organisation. Ongoing and unpublished work is welcome when it is ready for a coherent presentation.

We especially encourage submissions from researchers based in Asia and other regions historically underrepresented in the VGZT series.

What to submit

A provisional talk title. This can be updated later.
A short abstract of 150–300 words describing the research question, approach, main findings or current direction, and significance of the project.
Basic information about you, your institution, and your career stage.
Research themes or keywords, plus any relevant scheduling information.

Seminar format

Early-career speakers normally join a Paired Research Session with a related VGZT speaker. Pairings are based on scientific theme.

Slot: 30-minute
Presentation: 25 minutes
Questions: 5 minutes

Season 8 recognition

Early-Career Talk Awards

At the end of Season 8, VGZT will recognise two Early-Career Talk awardees.

Student / pre-doctoral

Undergraduate and Master’s students, PhD students, and pre-doctoral / early research assistants.

Research staff

Postdoctoral researchers, lab technicians, lab scientists, fellows, and comparable early-career research staff.

How submissions are matched

This is not a competitive selection: abstracts are not scored or ranked. The organizing team checks only that the work fits VGZT’s scope, is ready for a coherent presentation, and can be paired with a related Season 8 speaker.

Eligible abstracts are considered as suitable sessions are arranged. Replies may arrive at different times; the call remains open until presentation slots are filled.

If submissions exceed available sessions, some eligible projects may not be accommodated.

You can also browse the current Season 8 Speaker Preview. Dates are still being arranged and availability may change.

Preferred session times

Sessions use America/New_York. The world times below are calculated for the next Friday session and update automatically for seasonal clock changes. Exact dates are arranged after a thematic match, so no date commitment is needed when applying.

Eastern session 10:00 ET / 16:00 CEST / 15:00 BST / 22:00 CST / 19:30 IST / 23:00 JST / 00:00 AEST +1
Western session 12:30 ET / 18:30 CEST / 17:30 BST / 00:30 CST +1 / 22:00 IST / 01:30 JST +1 / 02:30 AEST +1
Alternative session 21:00 ET / 03:00 CEST +1 / 02:00 BST +1 / 09:00 CST +1 / 06:30 IST +1 / 10:00 JST +1 / 11:00 AEST +1

FAQ

Does my project need to be published?

No. Ongoing and unpublished work is welcome, provided the project is sufficiently developed to support a coherent research presentation.

Is this a competitive abstract selection?

No. We make a light scope and readiness check before matching eligible projects with a relevant Season 8 speaker.

When will I hear back?

Timing depends on when a suitable speaker and session can be identified. Applicants who submit around the same time may therefore hear from us at different times.

Can I submit if my work is not strictly about gastrulation?

Yes. VGZT interprets the scope broadly around peri-gastrulation development and related questions in cell fate, patterning, morphogenesis, signalling, embryo models, self-organisation, quantitative development, and related areas.

Can undergraduate students and research assistants submit?

Yes. We explicitly welcome submissions from undergraduate and Master’s students, PhD students, research assistants, postdoctoral researchers, and other early-career researchers.

Are the speakers in the Season 8 Speaker Preview confirmed?

Not yet. The preview shows researchers expected to take part in Season 8. Dates and times are still being arranged, individual availability may change, the list may change, and additional speakers will be added.

Submit your abstract

The Microsoft Form is embedded below so you can stay in the VGZT page context while submitting.

Stay updated

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Subscribe to the official VGZT seminar mailing list, join the VGZT Slack community, or both, for programme and Abstract Call updates.

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Questions?

If you are unsure whether your project fits the VGZT scope or have a question about the call, contact the Season 8 organizing team at organizers@vgzt.org.

Meet the Season 8 organizing team →