The application process for the second edition of the International Summer School on Structured Light and Matter is now open!

After the great success of the first LUMES Summer School in 2025, which brought together international students who praised both the quality of the courses and the unique experience in Salamanca, we are excited to launch this new edition.

Join us for a one-week school organized by the Structured Light and Matter Research Center (LUMES) at the University of Salamanca, Spain. This program offers advanced training in three important research areas: structured light, structured matter, and light–matter interaction. What is structured light? How can quantum materials help to solve modern problems in energy storage and transport? Why have ultrashort laser pulses changed nanoscience? If you want to learn more about these questions and understand some of the most interesting challenges in optics, materials science, magnetism, and quantum physics, do not miss the LUMES Summer School!

Over the 1-week course, students will attend 11 specialized courses (36 hours in total), combining theory, experimental sessions, and keynote lectures delivered by international experts:

• Alison Yao (University of Strathclyde)
• Burkard Hillebrands (Technical University of Kaiserslautern)
• Nuno M. R. Peres (University of Minho)

The program also includes social activities in Salamanca, and a visit to the Centro de Láseres Pulsados (CLPU).

The school is intended for students in the final years of undergraduate studies in Physics, Chemistry or Engineering, as well as Master’s and first-year PhD students in related fields. All activities will be conducted in English.

Participation is limited to 15 students! Thanks to our sponsorship from Junta de Castilla y León, the school has no registration fee, and it also includes meals and accommodation for all registered students, and offers travel grants to cover transportation to Salamanca for international students. Applicants can request these limited grants via their motivation letter during registration.

The school will take place from July 6th to 10th in Salamanca, Spain.

Applications are open until April 10th.

For more details (lumes@usal.es) and to apply, please visit:

2nd International Summer School on Structured Light and Matter (6-10 July, 2026)