COST Action · Bucharest 2026

From Molecules
to Materials

2nd Training School on Theory and Experiment

Join 35 students from across Europe for an intensive training school in the heart of Romania, hosted by the Institute of Physical Chemistry "Ilie Murgulescu".

Participants
35 European Students
Location
Bucharest, Romania
Discover More View Programme
scroll
Welcome

Welcome to the
2nd Training School

We are delighted to welcome 35 students from across Europe to Bucharest for this intensive training school organised under the COST Action framework. This event brings together early-career researchers and students in a collaborative academic environment dedicated to bridging theory and experiment.

The school offers a unique combination of rigorous academic sessions, hands-on work, and cultural immersion in one of Eastern Europe's most vibrant and historically rich capitals.

Hosted by the Institute of Physical Chemistry "Ilie Murgulescu" and supported by TERACRYSTAL, the programme is designed to foster scientific collaboration and excellence among the next generation of researchers.

35
European participants
🇷🇴
Bucharest, Romania
COST
Action Framework
2nd
Edition of the School
Bucharest skyline at sunset
Funding & Partners

COST Action & Partners

This Training School is organised within the framework of a COST Action (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) — a funding scheme for the creation of research networks across Europe and beyond.

This Training School is part of the BEST-CSP COST Action CA22107 — Bringing Experiment and Simulation Together in Crystal Structure Prediction. The programme is co-funded by the European Union and benefits from the collaborative, interdisciplinary environment that COST Actions are renowned for. For more information visit www.cost.eu.

ICF Ilie Murgulescu logo

Institute of Physical Chemistry
"Ilie Murgulescu"

Romanian Academy · Bucharest · Host institution

TERACRYSTAL logo

TERACRYSTAL

Research partner and co-organiser · "Beyond the crystal"

🇪🇺

European Union

Horizon Europe co-funding programme

COST

COST Association

European Cooperation in Science & Technology

BEST-CSP

BEST-CSP · COST Action CA22107

Bringing Experiment and Simulation Together in Crystal Structure Prediction · best-csp.eu

Academic

Programme Overview

Five days of intensive lectures and practicals · June 1–5, 2026 · Institute of Physical Chemistry "Ilie Murgulescu", Bucharest

Monday, June 1st

Day 1 — Opening & X-ray Diffraction

09:00 – 09:30
Welcome from the Organizers
Ivo Rietveld & Victor Fruth
Opening
09:30 – 13:30
Basics of X-ray Diffraction
Mihaela Pop
Lecture
13:30 – 15:00
Lunch Break
Lunch
15:00 – 17:00
Crystallographic Data Interpretation
Anders Madsen
Lecture
Tuesday, June 2nd

Day 2 — Crystallography & Solubility

09:00 – 13:30
Crystallographic Data Interpretation
Anders Madsen
Lecture
13:30 – 15:00
Lunch Break
Lunch
15:00 – 17:00
Solubility and DSC
Manuel Minas da Piedade
Lecture
Wednesday, June 3rd

Day 3 — Solubility & DVS

09:00 – 13:30
Solubility and DSC
Manuel Minas da Piedade
Lecture
13:30 – 15:00
Lunch Break
Lunch
15:00 – 17:00
DVS and X-ray Diffraction
Doris Braun
Lecture
Thursday, June 4th

Day 4 — DVS, Team Building & Dinner

09:00 – 13:30
DVS and X-ray Diffraction
Doris Braun
Lecture
13:30 – 15:00
Lunch Break
Lunch
15:00 – 17:00
Team Building
Social
19:00 – 22:00
Dinner
Social
Friday, June 5th

Day 5 — Racemic Systems & Closing

09:00 – 13:30
Racemic Systems
Tom Leyssens
Lecture
13:30 – 15:00
Lunch Break
Lunch
15:00 – 17:00
Racemic Systems
Tom Leyssens
Lecture
17:00 – 17:30
Closing Remarks
Ivo Rietveld & Victor Fruth
Closing
Where

Venue & Accommodation

Hotel Le Blanc Cotroceni

🏨 Hotel Le Blanc Cotroceni

Your home for the week, located in the charming Cotroceni neighbourhood, close to the Botanical Garden and the Presidential Palace.

📍

Cotroceni Quarter, Bucharest, Romania

🕐

Check-in / Check-out: times to be confirmed

🌐

Free Wi-Fi · 24h Reception

ℹ️

Please carry a valid passport or national ID. Inform organisers of late arrivals in advance.

ICF Ilie Murgulescu

🔬 ICF "Ilie Murgulescu"

The academic host of the Training School — a premier research institute of the Romanian Academy, specialising in physical chemistry and materials science since 1963.

📍

Splaiul Independenței 202, Bucharest 060021, Romania

🏢

Access via the central car park

📞

On-site contact details to be provided before arrival

📍 A shared Google Map with the hotel, institute, restaurants and key stops will be sent to all participants before arrival.

Getting Around

Transport & Getting Here

Bucharest is well connected internationally. From the airport, several options get you to the hotel quickly and reliably.

✈️ From Henri Coandă Airport (OTP) to the Hotel

🚂

Train (Recommended)

  • Direct train: Airport → Gara de Nord
  • Duration: ~20–25 min
  • From Gara de Nord: metro or taxi to hotel
  • Frequent service · very affordable
Most reliable
📱

Uber / Bolt

  • Direct door-to-door service
  • Duration: ~25–40 min (traffic)
  • Cost: approx. 10–20 EUR
  • Available in English · safe & trackable
Easiest option
🚕

Official Taxi

  • Use only licensed yellow taxis
  • Or apps: Speed Cabs, Clever Taxi
  • Duration: ~25–40 min
  • Cost: approx. 12–25 EUR
Always ask for meter

🚶 Hotel ↔ Institute (Daily Commute)

🚶

Walking

  • Distance: ~200 m from the hotel
  • Walking time: 5–10 minutes
  • Pleasant route through quiet residential streets
  • Plan to arrive 10–15 min early on the first day
Recommended
⏰ Important: Plan to arrive 10–15 minutes early on the first day of courses to allow time for orientation and registration.
Tourism

Explore Bucharest

Bucharest is a vibrant city full of history, art, and green spaces. Here are our top recommendations for your free time.

Palace of the Parliament

🏛️ Palace of the Parliament

World's second-largest building · Guided tours available

Google Maps
Village Museum

🏘️ Village Museum

Open-air museum with authentic Romanian rural architecture

Official site Google Maps
National Museum of Art

🎨 National Museum of Art

Romanian & European fine art · Royal Palace, Calea Victoriei

Official site Google Maps
Botanical Garden

🌿 Botanical Garden

10,000 plant species · Walking distance from the hotel

Official site Google Maps