Applications for the 2026 ACA Summer Course will open in December 2025, and we encourage anyone passionate about crystallography to apply.

Each year, the ACA Summer Course in Chemical Crystallography brings together students, early-career researchers, and leading instructors for a week of immersive, hands-on learning. In 2026, the course will be hosted at Purdue University and marks more than three decades of this cornerstone outreach and educational program within our community.

The ACA Summer Course is a week-long intensive program, now well into its third decade of instruction in the United States. Designed primarily for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, the course provides comprehensive training in both the theoretical and practical aspects of crystallography, with a focus on single-crystal chemical crystallography and powder diffraction techniques as applied to small-molecule studies. Mornings feature lectures on experimental theory, while afternoons and evenings are devoted to hands-on workshops that bring those concepts to life.

Photo: 2025 ACA Summer Course Class — courtesy of Danielle L. Gray, Ph.D.

As crystallography continues to expand its role across the physical and biomedical sciences, reliance on highly automated procedures can sometimes leave gaps in foundational understanding. The ACA Summer Course addresses those gaps directly—equipping participants with the critical knowledge and skills needed to tackle complex research problems and interpret results with confidence.

The program is exceptionally thorough and taught by some of the brightest minds in the ACA—including past presidents, award recipients, and rising stars within our community. Through lectures, workshops, and personalized mentorship, participants gain not only technical expertise but also a lasting sense of connection to the broader crystallographic community.

Outreach initiatives like this are vital to the continued growth and vitality of our field. By supporting programs that open doors for new scientists, we invest directly in the future of crystallography.

We’re proud to partner with Purdue University and Northwestern University to help this long-standing program continue to thrive. Each year, the enthusiasm and curiosity of the students remind us why it’s so important to create opportunities for learning, mentorship, and discovery.

The ACA dedicates over $20,000 each year to support the Summer Course, Crystal Growing Competitions, and other outreach initiatives that inspire the next generation of crystallographers. These programs are made possible through the generosity of our community—especially the Robert Daniel Rosenstein Award Fund, which continues to sustain and expand educational opportunities.

If you’d like to help us continue this important work, we encourage you to make a donation to the ACA or consider including the ACA in your bequest planning. Every contribution—large or small—helps us invest in the future of crystallography and ensure that outreach programs like the Summer Course continue to flourish for years to come.