Industry program at ISC 2026
ISC 2026
ISC 2026
The International Symposium on Chromatography (ISC) represents the oldest conference series on separation science. ISC symposia have been organised since 1956 in each even year. ISC is one of the premier meetings series for discussion of all modes of chromatography and separation science with a broad coverage of techniques and applications.
35th International Symposium on Chromatography
📆6. - 10. September 2026
📍Prague, Czech Republic
REGISTRATION
👉Register HERE for the ISC 2026
Late Registration until 25 August 2026
INDUSTRY ACTIVITIES
Activity 1: Discussion Session: Industry & Education
- Monday, 7 September 2026 | 16:30-17:50
- Place: Club A
- Moderators: Tony Edge and Deirdre Cabooter
Concept:
This discussion session will explore the relationship between education in separation science in academia and the expectations of industry, focusing on how universities and companies can better collaborate to prepare graduates for successful careers in analytical laboratories and R&D environments.
The goal of the session is to provide perspectives from both academia and industry on how education in chromatography and related separation techniques can evolve to better reflect current technological, methodological, and regulatory challenges.
Discussion Topics:
- Bridging academia and industry: how both sectors perceive current cooperation and where improvements are possible
- Graduate preparedness: which skills and competencies are often missing when entering industrial roles, and in which areas graduates typically excel
- Approaches to teaching separation science: how chromatography and related analytical techniques are taught across different universities and regions
- Industry support for education: examples of collaboration such as internships, industrial placements, joint teaching activities, or access to instrumentation
- Experiences with academia–industry partnerships: what models of cooperation have proven effective in practice
- Future perspectives: how education in separation science should adapt to emerging trends such as automation, digitalization, sustainability, and regulatory requirements
Format:
Moderated panel discussion with short introductory remarks from invited speakers representing both academia and industry, followed by an interactive discussion with the audience.
Panelists:
- Shimadzu
- Novartis
- Jelle De Vos, RIC Group
- Davy Guillarme, University of Geneva
- Caterina Temporini, University of Pavia
Activity 2: Career Presentation
- Monday, 7 September 2026 | 18:00-19:00
- Place: Club A
- Moderators: Adrian Clarke and Martina Catani
Concept:
This session will provide an overview of career opportunities in separation science across industry, highlighting the wide range of professional pathways available to graduates and experienced scientists working in chromatography and related analytical disciplines.
Participating companies will introduce their organizations, present typical roles involving separation techniques, and share insights into the skills and competencies they seek in candidates. The session is intended to support students, early-career researchers, and experienced professionals interested in exploring career options in industry sectors.
Discussion Topics:
- Overview of career paths involving chromatography and separation science
- Entry-level opportunities for graduates and PhD holders
- Positions for experienced scientists and technical specialists
- Roles in R&D, analytical development, quality control, regulatory science, application support, and instrument development
- Skills and competencies valued by employers in separation science
- Internships, graduate programs, and early-career development opportunities
- Mobility between academia and industry
Format:
Short presentation providing:
- overview of different carrier paths
- introduction to the company and its activities related to separation science
- examples of typical roles and career progression paths
- information about current or expected hiring needs
- advice for candidates interested in pursuing careers in industry
- the session should include time for informal discussion, allowing participants to interact with company representatives and learn more about specific opportunities.
Activity 3: Job Fair
- Monday, 7 September and Tuesday, 8 September 2026 | 12:30-14:00
- Place: Club A
- Main organizer: Adrian Clarke
Concept:
The ISC 2026 Job Fair provides a structured opportunity for direct interaction between companies active in separation science and conference participants seeking career opportunities. The session is designed to facilitate efficient, focused conversations between employers and candidates interested in positions related to chromatography and analytical science.
Participating candidates will submit their CV in advance allowing companies to review profiles prior to the event and identify potential matches based on expertise, experience, and career interests.
Format:
The Job Fair will follow a structured rotation format:
- Each participating company will be assigned a dedicated table
- One company representative will meet candidates individually
- Each candidate will have 5 minutes per meeting to introduce their background and interests
- Participants will rotate between companies at timed intervals
- Session timing will be managed by the organizer, with a signal indicating when to move to the next meeting
Candidates:
Participants interested in joining the Job Fair are asked to:
- submit their CV before August 23rd
- indicate areas of expertise and career interests
- specify whether they are seeking internships, entry-level roles, or experienced positions
- specify if you cannot be available on a certain day e.g. owing to poster presentation
- send these materials to: [email protected]
Companies:
Confirmed participating companies to date include:
- Novartis
- RIC Group
- Shimadzu
- further companies to be added
Potential employers please register your interest to [email protected] to participate in the speed-dating (first come first served basis).
“Jobs position” board will be available in the Careers fair in the foyer in the symposium venue and attendees can visit the company booths in the exhibition hall or discuss with recruiting companies during the conference.
Recruiters please send an email with your open positions to [email protected] by the 23rd August and bring the job adverts to post on the jobs board (there will also be the possibility to upload the open positions to the Symposium app).
Activity 4: Discussion Session: Artificial Intelligence in Separation Science: From Concept to Practice
- Tuesday, 8 September 2026 | 16:30-18:00
- Place: Club A
- Moderators: Bob Pirok
Concept:
Artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven approaches are increasingly influencing analytical chemistry, offering new possibilities for method development, data interpretation, process optimization, and decision support. This discussion session will explore how AI is currently being applied in separation science, with a particular focus on practical implementation in industry environments.
The session aims to provide a realistic overview of the current state of AI adoption, highlighting both successful applications and remaining challenges. Contributions from industry and academia will help clarify where AI already delivers value, where expectations may exceed current capabilities, and what developments are needed to enable broader implementation.
Discussion Topics:
- Current applications of AI and machine learning in separation science
- Use of AI in chromatographic method development and optimization
- Data analysis, peak detection, and automated interpretation of complex datasets
- AI-supported troubleshooting and predictive maintenance of analytical instruments
- Integration of AI into regulated environments (e.g., pharmaceutical industry)
- Data requirements, data quality, and standardization challenges
- Comparison between academic developments and real-world industrial implementation
- Barriers to adoption, including regulatory considerations, validation requirements, and transparency of models
- Future outlook: digital laboratories, autonomous method development, and AI-assisted decision-making in analytical workflows
Format:
Moderated panel discussion with short introductory remarks from invited speakers representing both academia and industry, followed by an interactive discussion with the audience.
Activity 5: Discussion Session: Sustainability in Separation Science
- Wednesday, 9 September 2026 | 16:30-18:00
- Place: Club A
- Moderators: Gertrud Morlock
Concept:
Sustainability has become an increasingly important priority in analytical science, driving the development of greener methods, reduced solvent consumption, improved energy efficiency, and more responsible laboratory practices. While academic research frequently proposes innovative sustainable approaches, their implementation in industry is often influenced by additional considerations such as robustness, regulatory compliance, cost efficiency, scalability, and long-term reliability.
This discussion session aims to explore how sustainability principles are applied in real industrial environments and how collaboration between academia and industry can help translate promising research concepts into practical, validated solutions.
By bringing together perspectives from both sectors, the session will highlight opportunities to better align research priorities with industrial needs and identify realistic pathways toward more sustainable separation workflows.
Discussion Topics:
- Reduction of solvent consumption and the transition to more environmentally friendly mobile phases
- Miniaturized and more efficient separation and extraction techniques
- Energy consumption and efficiency of laboratory processes and analytical instrumentation
- Lifecycle considerations for columns, consumables, and laboratory waste
- Metrics and approaches for measuring and evaluating the “greenness” of analytical methods
- Regulatory constraints and requirements that may limit the implementation of greener analytical workflows
Format:
Moderated panel discussion with short introductory contributions from invited speakers representing industry, academia, and technology providers, followed by interactive discussion with the audience.
Panelists:
- Sébastien Rolle, Shimadzu
- Ken Cook, Thermo Fisher Scientific
- Andreas Otto, Agilent
- Janusz Pawliszyn, University of Waterloo
- Giorgia Purcaro, University of Liège
