Previewing the Upcoming 2026 Vibrational Spectroscopy Seminar

An upcoming two-day conference will bring together early-career researchers in vibrational spectroscopy to discuss the latest advancements and trends in vibrational spectroscopy. The Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) on Vibrational Spectroscopy, which will take place at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, New Hampshire, on August 1–2, 2026, is organized this year under the theme "Structure and Dynamics on Multiple Length and Time Scales.”¹ This two-day meeting is structured exclusively for doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers, and it is scheduled to immediately precede the full Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on the same topic, which runs August 2–7 at the same venue.¹

The GRS format, which is distinct from the broader GRC series, restricts attendance to junior researchers, positioning the seminar as a pipeline event designed to prepare early-career scientists for the more senior, invitation-heavy environment of the GRC.¹

What is the scientific focus of the GRS on vibrational spectroscopy?

The 2026 seminar places particular emphasis on new developments in time-resolved spectroscopy and vibrational imaging, aiming to give researchers access to structural and dynamical information across a wide range of sample systems.¹ Time-resolved spectroscopy is a broad range of spectroscopic methods that measure time-dependent signals, used to study dynamic processes in materials on timescales ranging from seconds down to femtoseconds or shorter.² These techniques often require sophisticated laser sources, such as tunable picosecond or femtosecond lasers, to avoid complex synchronization challenges.²

Because time-resolved spectroscopy is growing in popularity and is finding its place in various application areas, much of the conference program will focus on this technique. Meanwhile, individual presentation topics span a broad methodological range. Scheduled talks include work on probing water restructuring at electrochemical interfaces using heterodyne-detected vibrational sum frequency generation (VSFG), millisecond time-resolved VSFG for studying CO reduction kinetics on copper electrodes, and real-time imaging of chemical bond formation using ultrafast electron diffraction.¹

The seminar’s program highlights the current hot topics in vibrational spectroscopy and what the instrumentation focus is on. As a result, variables such as sub-millisecond time resolution, interface-sensitive nonlinear optical methods, and hyperspectral imaging operating in biologically relevant conditions are addressed.¹

What mentorship opportunities will be available at the GRS on Vibrational Spectroscopy?

In addition to research presentations, senior researchers are set to give short "primer" talks on selected vibrational spectroscopy techniques. The goal of these talks is to help junior attendees prepare for the GRC, which takes place directly following the seminar.¹ Topics for these primers include second-order spectroscopy for structural anisotropy measurements, optical photothermal infrared (O-PTIR) imaging using metabolic probes, and Raman spectroscopy in drug delivery contexts.¹

A separate mentoring panel will bring more experienced academics together to discuss career paths available after a Ph.D., offering an open and informal forum on how junior researchers can prepare for different professional futures. The inclusion of a structured career panel alongside technical sessions is designed to address both scientific development and professional navigation within a single two-day program.¹

What is the format of the seminar and what are the conference expectations for attendees?

The GRS on Vibrational Spectroscopy expects active participation from its attendees. This means that they are required to either give an oral presentation or present a poster.¹ The seminar will feature approximately 10 talks and two poster sessions.¹

Financial assistance is available through the Carl Storm Opportunity Fellowships program for qualified applicants. Industry support for the seminar comes from laser technology firms Light Conversion and EKSPLA, both of which supply ultrafast laser systems widely used in vibrational spectroscopy research.¹ The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science is also acknowledged as a funding source, though specific award numbers were not publicly listed at time of publication.¹

References

1. Gordon Research Seminar, Vibrational Spectroscopy. Gordon Research Seminar, 2026. https://www.grc.org/vibrational-spectroscopy-grs-conference/2026/ (accessed June 29, 2026).
2. Paschotta, R. Time-resolved Spectroscopy. RP Photonics, 2026. https://www.rp-photonics.com/time_resolved_spectroscopy.html (accessed June 29, 2026).