NCCR Bio-Inspired Materials

24/02/2026

⏱️Registrations are now open!

Join us in Fribourg, 🇨🇭 Switzerland, on June 19–20, 2026, for the International Bio‑Inspired Materials Conference🦋

This milestone event celebrates more than a decade of research, innovation, and collaboration by the NCCR Bio-Inspired Materials, supported by the SNF FNS SNSF and the Université de Fribourg - Universität Freiburg.

In addition to keynote lectures by world‑leading experts, this two‑day conference will feature scientific sessions exploring the latest advances in bio‑inspired materials — with a focus on mechanoresponsive systems, photonic materials, and biointerfaces.

Participants can look forward to networking opportunities connecting academia, industry, and the public sector, as well as an exhibition space showcasing innovative technologies and real‑world applications of bio‑inspired materials.

Be part of a community pushing the boundaries of bio‑inspired science and technology.

👉Curious to find out more? Check out the conference website for further details https://bioinspiredmaterials2026.ch/conference-overview

🔗 To register now, follow this link: https://bioinspiredmaterials2026.ch/registration

18/12/2025

Just out: the Université de Fribourg - Universität Freiburg has published this profile of our NCCR Bio-Inspired Materials researcher Viola Vogler-Neuling (The Adolphe Merkle Institute) and her new SNF FNS SNSF Ambizione project “Structural Colour – The Way Nature Creates It”. See below ⬇️ to read the story (in French)!

Fascinée depuis l’enfance par les teintes éclatantes des ailes des papillons, Viola Vogler-Neuling souhaite s’en inspirer pour révolutionner l’industrie de la couleur. Les recherches de la physicienne de l’AMI sont soutenues par un subside Ambizione. Féru de papillons, le grand-père de ...

01/12/2025

UPDATE: applications are now closed! 🛑 More than 100 students have applied for a place this summer, so it will take a little while to make the final selection. For those who applied, thank you in advance for your patience!

🦋 This Summer, Transform Your Future 🦋

What if you spent your summer not in a typical lab job, but working on your own groundbreaking research project?

That's the reality for students selected for the NCCR Bio-Inspired Materials Undergraduate Research Internship program in Switzerland.

Here's the dream scenario:

You arrive in for an 8 to 10-week fully funded research adventure. Your housing? Covered. Your travel? Covered. Your focus? Pure science.

Your project could be:

🔬 Modeling Butterfly Wings – Discovering how nature creates stunning iridescent colors using nanotechnology, without a trace of pigment.

🔬 Inventing Super-Adhesives – Unlocking the secrets of collagen to create adhesives inspired by the strength and toughness of nature's own connective tissues.

🔬 Detecting Disease – Developing biosensors to detect proteins linked to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease at the molecular level.

But here's what makes it really special:

✨ You're not just an intern—you're working on a real research project
✨ You'll work alongside world-class mentors
✨ Your research could lead to co-authorship on a peer-reviewed paper before you graduate
✨ You'll earn 6 ECTS credits AND academic recognition
✨ Plus: scientific seminars, international networking, and a summer of discovery in Switzerland

Who's eligible? Ambitious undergraduate science students ready to push boundaries and think big.

When? Applications are OPEN NOW through January 20, 2026.

The catch? This is competitive—so if you're serious about your future in science, don't wait.

👉 Ready to turn nature's superpowers into innovation? Learn more and apply:
www.bioinspired-materials.ch/en/education/summerschool

Tag a friend who needs to see this!

Université de Fribourg - Universität Freiburg The Adolphe Merkle Institute University of Fribourg - Biology

05/09/2025

Our 2025 Annual Center Conference this week in the mountain village of Charmey marked a significant milestone as the final internal meeting of our NCCR Bio-Inspired Materials community.

Some of the highlights from two days away from the lab:

Talks given by our researchers:
· Nanopore technology for protein detection, relevant to neurodegenerative disease research
· Advanced materials synthesis using magnetic components and self-assembly principles
· Biomedical applications using DNA nanotechnology for molecular diagnostics
· Photonics and optical materials with unique light manipulation properties
· Biointerface research combining thermal and plasmonic effects for cell studies
· Advanced polymerization techniques in confined nanoscale environments
· Smart materials that respond dynamically to chemical stimuli
· Biosensing technology with customizable molecular recognition capabilities

Inspiring talks from our guest speakers, Marcy Zenobi-Wong (ETH Zürich) on architected scaffolds to promote tissue formation. and Stefanie Zechner, PhD (nextImpact) on the academia-to-industry transition.

Poster and mentoring sessions, as well as short project presentations.

As we near the conclusion of our final funding phase, this conference served as a reminder of how much has been achieved since our Center's launch in 2014. From mechanically responsive materials to photonic innovations and bio-interfaces, our interdisciplinary community has helped transform how we think about "smart" materials inspired by nature. All the sessions in Charmey also reminded us why collaboration across traditional boundaries has been at the heart of our success.

Thank you to every researcher, student, and collaborator who made this final conference happen. And a big shout-out to our Center management team for the organization, in particular,

25/08/2025

03/07/2025

Welcome to our latest arrivals, John Abraham, Anxhela Dida, Adam Madill, Sophia Newcomer, Bar Peled, and Enej Zamida. Enjoy your stay with us!

The kids have finally all made it to Switzerland🇨🇭! A big warm (or stinky hot 🥵, based on the weather) welcome to the last members of this summer’s NCCR Bio-Inspired Materials undergraduate research internship program to arrive! They join a group of talented interns engaging in cutting-edge research at The Adolphe Merkle Institute, the Université de Fribourg - Universität Freiburg, and EPFL.

We look forward to seeing all the innovative projects and contributions from our final cohort as they dive into lab work, scientific lectures, and networking events (and lots of social activities - it is summer after all!)

And a special thanks to all our P*s, postdocs, and PhD students mentoring them through the coming weeks!

24/06/2025

A big, warm welcome to our new (and final) cohort of summer undergraduate research interns joining us in Switzerland at the NCCR Bio-Inspired Materials!

These talented students from around the world will contribute fresh perspectives to our interdisciplinary research community. Over the coming weeks, they will work alongside our scientists, gaining hands-on experience on cutting-edge projects.

We look forward to seeing the results of their projects at the end of their stay (and maybe a few future publications)!

Rebecca An Zachary Asawesna Leah Baker Jeremy Clemons Ryan Donnelly Emilia Gomez Isobel McSweeney Roman Nemiatyi Natalia Niño Christian Nolde Nathan Petranka Veneta Salyahetdinova Vanessa Vaz Mansi Patel

25/11/2024

✨ The NCCR Bio-Inspired Materials’ latest creation has arrived! ✨🎄
This holiday season, add a touch of science to your celebrations! 🎁 Our brand-new science-themed advent calendar is designed to spark a love for science in kids and adults alike — perfect for sharing joy and curiosity with your loved ones, friends, or coworkers.
✨ Interested in having one? Don’t wait—contact us today at [email protected]! Let’s share science this Christmas! 🌟

✨ La dernière création du PRN Matériaux Bio-Inspirés est arrivée ! ✨🎄
Pour les fêtes de fin d'année, ajoutez une touche de science à vos célébrations ! 🎁 Notre tout nouveau calendrier de l'Avent sur le thème de la science est conçu pour susciter l'amour de la science chez les enfants comme chez les adultes - parfait pour partager joie et curiosité avec vos proches, vos amis ou vos collègues.
✨ Vous souhaitez en avoir un ? N'attendez pas - contactez-nous à [email protected] dès aujourd'hui ! Diffusons la science à Noël ! 🌟

✨ Die neueste Kreation des NFS Bio-inspirierte Materialien ist ist da! ✨🎄
Verleihen Sie Ihren Feiern zur Weihnachtszeit einen Hauch von Wissenschaft! 🎁 Unser brandneuer Adventskalender zum Thema Wissenschaft wurde entwickelt, um bei Kindern und Erwachsenen die Liebe zur Wissenschaft zu wecken - perfekt, um Freude und Neugierde mit Ihrer Familie, Ihren Freunden oder Kollegen zu teilen.
✨ Sie möchten einen haben? Warten Sie nicht - kontaktieren Sie uns noch heute unter [email protected]! Verbreiten wir die Wissenschaft zu Weihnachten! 🌟

Université de Fribourg - Universität Freiburg University of Fribourg - Biology University of Fribourg - Chemistry SNF FNS SNSF EPFL ETH Zürich

10/09/2024

We just spent two great days last week in for our NCCR Bio-Inspired Materials Annual Center Conference, with a wide variety of presentations, learning opportunities, discussions for future collaborations, and networking. Many thanks to our keynote speakers, Robert Göstl, Sam J. England, and Margaux Duchamp, for your inspiring talks. A big shout-out also to our management team for organizing the event so smoothly every year! SNF FNS SNSF