2nd COMENZE Training School: Exploring Molecular Enzymology

26–30 October 2026 | Oeiras, Portugal

End of October the COMENZE Doctoral Network will come together in Oeiras, Portugal, for its second Training School, hosted by ITQB NOVA. From 26 to 30 October, Doctoral Candidates, supervisors and invited experts will take part in a five-day programme dedicated to Molecular Enzymology, combining scientific lectures, hands-on practical sessions and research discussions.

Under the theme Molecular Enzymology, the five-day programme will bring together COMENZE Doctoral Candidates, supervisors and invited experts for a combination of scientific lectures, hands-on practical sessions and research discussions.

Exploring Molecular Enzymology: From Fundamentals to Advanced Engineering

Building on the first COMENZE Training School, the upcoming programme will explore key concepts and methods in molecular enzymology, connecting fundamental knowledge with advanced computational and experimental approaches to enzyme engineering.

The scientific programme will cover several complementary areas:

Enzyme catalysis and kinetics: Understanding enzyme mechanisms, catalytic activity, specificity and inhibition, as well as structure-guided enzyme design.
Protein dynamics and computational enzyme engineering: Exploring how molecular simulations, machine learning and protein dynamics can support enzyme engineering.
Structural enzymology and directed evolution: Investigating enzyme structures, mechanisms and strategies for improving enzyme activity and stability.
Enzyme engineering workflows: Practical approaches to enzyme expression, screening, selection, molecular cloning and mutagenesis.

Alongside the scientific topics, the programme will address essential aspects of a research career, including mentoring, professional networks, research ethics, scientific integrity and metascience.

Learning from Experts Across the Network and Beyond

The Training School will feature lectures and sessions led by researchers and experts from within and beyond the COMENZE network.

The speakers include Marco Fraaije, Marcus Schallmey, Tiago Cordeiro, Paola Laurino, Mehdi Davari, Andrea Mattevi, Lígia Martins, Caterina Martin, James Yates and David Pina.

Through lectures, discussions and practical sessions, participants will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of enzyme engineering methods, explore different scientific perspectives and exchange knowledge with experienced researchers.

Sharing Research Progress and Strengthening Collaboration

The final day of the Training School will be dedicated to presentations by all ten COMENZE Doctoral Candidates.

Each candidate will share progress on their individual research project, providing an opportunity to discuss scientific developments, receive feedback and exchange ideas with colleagues and supervisors.

Beyond the formal programme, the Training School will also offer valuable opportunities for networking and collaboration across the COMENZE consortium.

Supporting the Next Generation of Enzyme Engineers

Training Schools are a central component of the COMENZE Doctoral Network, complementing the candidates’ individual research projects with interdisciplinary scientific training and opportunities for knowledge exchange.

By combining computational and experimental perspectives, the second Training School will contribute to the development of the scientific skills and expertise needed to advance enzyme engineering for sustainable polymer applications.

We look forward to an engaging week of scientific learning, discussion and collaboration in Portugal.