2025 Workshop Lineup
As part of this year's ACA conference, we are excited to offer a dynamic lineup of workshops that explore the depth and complexity of structural science. Thoughtfully curated for both emerging and experienced researchers, these sessions provide a unique opportunity to refine skills, discover cutting-edge methodologies, and foster meaningful collaboration. From hands-on practical training to expert-led discussions, our workshops are designed to deliver an immersive and enriching experience. Whether you're a student, researcher, or industry professional, this is your chance to unlock new insights into crystal structures and expand your expertise in structural science. Join us for an inspiring journey of discovery and innovation!
Disclaimer: The specific topics and times listed are subject to change. A final schedule will be made available soon. Please check back for updates to ensure you have the most accurate and up-to-date information.Workshop #1: An Introduction to Complementary Solution Biophysics for the Structural Biologist
Organizers: Kushol Gupta & Maxwell Watkins
Friday, July 18, 2025 | 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM CT | Lunch Included
Registration Fee:
Students/PostDocs: $50
All Others: $150
The workshop, An Introduction to Complementary Solution Biophysics for the Structural Biologist, at the 2025 ACA Annual Meeting will introduce participants to essential solution biophysics methods used in structural biology. These techniques are critical for understanding macromolecular properties such as mass, stoichiometry, shape, and thermodynamics, complementing traditional structural approaches like X-ray Crystallography, cryo-EM, and NMR. Through a mix of lectures and hands-on tutorials, attendees will gain practical knowledge of methods such as analytical ultracentrifugation, light scattering, and small-angle scattering. The workshop aims to provide a foundational understanding of these techniques, their applications, and how they validate macromolecular structures in a biologically relevant environment.
Attendees can expect a comprehensive, one-day learning experience that balances theoretical insights with hands-on applications. The workshop will cover fundamental solution biophysics concepts, introduce state-of-the-art techniques, and guide participants through practical exercises to analyze macromolecular properties. Experts in the field will deliver lectures and tutorials on topics such as hydrodynamic modeling, analytical ultracentrifugation, light scattering, and mass photometry. Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to engage in discussions, receive feedback on their own data, and network with peers and industry professionals. The session is designed to be highly interactive, making it an excellent opportunity for students and early-career researchers to expand their structural biology toolkit.
Topics Include:
Overview and Introduction to Solution Biophysics
Tutorial 1: Calculating Hydrodynamic Parameters from Atomic Models
Analytical Ultracentrifugation (AUC) |Theory and Applications
Tutorial 2: Fitting Sedimentation Velocity AUC Data
Principles of Size-Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) and Field Flow Fractionation (FFF)
Light Scattering | Theory and Applications
Mass Photometry
Reconciling Orthogonal Solution Methods with Small-Angle Scattering
Characterizing Large Biologics using Solution Biophysics
Workshop #2: Applications of Visualization Technology in the Structural Sciences
Organizers: Ed Eng & Nichole Valdez
Friday, July 18, 2025 | 8:45 AM - 5:15 PM CT | Lunch Included
Registration Fee:
Students/PostDocs: $75
All Others: $150
The Structural Science Visualization Technology Workshop at the Chicago ACA Meeting will focus on the latest advancements in visualization techniques for structural sciences, particularly in cryo-electron microscopy and X-ray crystallography. The workshop will cover cutting-edge visualization tools such as 2D and 3D molecular animations, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and 3D printing to enhance the presentation and understanding of molecular structures. Attendees will engage in expert-led lectures, hands-on demonstrations, and discussions to explore how these technologies can be applied in scientific communication, education, and drug design.
Participants can look forward to an immersive learning experience where they will gain practical skills in using animation, VR, AR, and 3D printing to visualize complex structural data. The workshop will feature renowned experts from institutions such as the University of Utah, UC San Diego, and Schrödinger, offering insights into the latest tools like PyMOL3, syGlassVR, and Nanome.ai. Attendees will engage in interactive sessions, including hands-on demonstrations of 3D/4D visualization, molecular animations, and real-time virtual collaboration for chemical and pharmaceutical research. The event is ideal for scientists, educators, and students looking to enhance their ability to present structural data in innovative and compelling ways, making their research more accessible and impactful.
Topics Include:
Using animation tools to visualize and communicate molecular mechanisms
Communicating Scientific Concepts Through Art
Virtual reality 3D/4D visualization & analysis
3D printing protein structures for scientific discovery and education
Introducing PyMOL3: Bring your biochemistry to life with 3D molecular visualization and movie making
Molecular Design: Global real-time collaboration using Virtual Reality from general chemistry to pharmaceutical drug discovery
Workshop #3: Enhancing PDB Deposition & Validation Practices Workshop
Organizer: Christine Zardecki
Friday, July 18, 2025 | 1:00 PM - 5:30 PM CT | Lunch Not Included
Registration Fee:
Students/PostDocs: $25
All Others: $45
The Enhancing PDB Deposition and Validation Practices workshop, organized by the RCSB Protein Data Bank (PDB), is designed to train researchers in efficient and accurate deposition of three-dimensional (3D) biostructure data. This interactive half-day event will focus on best practices for submitting structures obtained through X-ray crystallography, cryo-electron microscopy, and NMR spectroscopy. Through a mix of lectures and hands-on tutorials, participants will learn how to prepare necessary data files, validate structures using the Worldwide Protein Data Bank (wwPDB) OneDep system, and leverage key tools for improving submission efficiency. Attendees will leave with the expertise needed to confidently deposit and validate their 3D structures while ensuring high-quality data entry.
Participants can anticipate a practical and engaging workshop that blends instructional lectures with hands-on exercises. They will gain firsthand experience using the OneDep deposition system, learning step-by-step how to prepare, validate, and submit their 3D structures. The workshop will also introduce essential validation tools and best practices to ensure the accuracy of deposited data. Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with expert biocurators, receive personalized guidance, and discuss common challenges in PDB deposition. By the end of the session, participants will be well-equipped to efficiently submit and validate their structures, whether they are depositing for the first time or looking to refine their process.
Topics Include:
OneDep Deposition
PDB Deposition with OneDep in Five Easy Steps
Preparing PDBx/mmCIF files for Depositing Structures Large and Small
Validating your structures before deposition via standalone validation server
ORCiD login and data submission
Tutorial 1: Preparing files and validating your structures
Tutorial 2: Making PDB Depositions with OneDep
Creation of deposition sessions via ORCiD
Checking sample sequences and ligands
Reviewing validation reports and make corrections
Submitting depositions
Workshop #4: Crystallographic and cryo-EM Structure Solution with Phenix
Organizer: Dorothee Liebschner
Friday, July 18, 2025 | 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM CT | Lunch Not Included
Registration Fee:
Students/PostDocs: $50
All Others: $150
The Phenix workshop at ACA 2025 will focus on the structure determination of biological macromolecules using the Phenix software package. Phenix processes data from various diffraction methods and cryo-EM to derive macromolecular structures, emphasizing automation to reduce manual effort. The workshop will provide a combination of lectures and hands-on tutorials covering key aspects of structure solution, including initial model building, refinement, and validation. Special attention will be given to Phenix’s tools for integrating AlphaFold-predicted models in crystallography and cryo-EM workflows. Attendees will engage in discussions and interactive tutorials led by Phenix developers, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the software. The workshop also serves as a feedback platform for developers to enhance Phenix's usability.
Participants of this full-day workshop will gain practical experience in using Phenix for crystallographic and cryo-EM structure determination. The sessions will include lectures on key computational strategies, followed by hands-on tutorials covering model prediction, refinement, and validation. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to learn directly from Phenix developers, ask questions, and work through structured exercises designed to reinforce key concepts. By the end of the workshop, they will be equipped with the skills needed to efficiently use Phenix in their own research. Additionally, the event provides an excellent opportunity for networking with fellow researchers and software developers, fostering collaboration in the structural biology community.
Topics Include:
Strategy for X-ray or Cryo-EM structure determination using AlphaFold models
Tutorial: Predicting your structure with AlphaFold
Tutorial: MR with an AlphaFold model
X-ray refinement
X-ray refinement + Xtriage + PDB deposition
Ligands
Cryo-EM refinement
Map symmetry, cryo-EM docking with Emplace Local via ChimeraX
Cryo-EM refinement + Mtriage
Model Validation
Satellite Workshop: APS Beyond Rg SAS
Tentative Dates: July 14-17, 2025
Workshop Contacts: Xiaobing Zuo, Jan Ilavsky & Jesse Hopkins
Although this is not an official ACA2025 workshop, we are proud to support this satellite event, which will take place independently and in advance of the main meeting.
This workshop series provides in-depth education on SAS theory, applications, and data analysis, including guidance on crafting effective beamtime proposals. Participants will benefit from demonstration experiments at APS beamlines, helping them identify the most suitable instruments for their research.
The program will cover the fundamentals of SAS, the theories and applications of SAXS and GISAXS, sample preparation, instrumentation, specialized applications across various fields, software training, and strategies for securing successful beamtime proposals.
More details will be available soon, but the workshop is typically a four-day event: two days of lectures, one day of hands-on experimentation, and one day dedicated to data analysis.
Please note that registration for this workshop is not available through the ACA2025 portal. Interested participants will need to register directly with the event organizers once registration opens.