In this 5-day course, you can learn the basics of microfluidic technology and sample a range of applications in microbiology, chemistry, and material science, all through the presentation of experiments and recorded demos. Topics will cover fluid transport at small scales, design and fabrication of microfluidic devices, set up of a typical microfluidic experiment, flow visualization, data acquisition and analysis, and ‘troubleshooting at the microscale’.
Course Description
The course is designed for researchers interested in integrating microfluidics into their experiments, whether they are beginners or seeking to enhance their basic knowledge of the technology. By the end of the course, participants will gain the skills to design and optimize microfluidic experiments tailored to their scientific projects.
The course is also registered as a summer school and is free of charge. Up to ten students outside ETH domain are eligible to attend in person. Places will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to availability. The in-person sessions will take place at ETH Zurich, Campus Hönggerberg. An online option is also available, with morning lectures accessible remotely via Zoom.
- ETH students should enroll via the course catalog until 15.05.2026.
- Summer School (in person) participants from outside ETH domain can enroll here until 15.05.2026.
- Online participants can register here (free of charge)
Course Program
| Monday 15/06 | |||
| 8.30-8.45 | Introduction to the Course | Secchi | HIF E 11 |
| 8.45-9.45 | Fundamentals of Fluid Dynamics in Microfluidics: An Introductory Lecture | Secchi | |
| 10.00-12.30 | Microfabrication Techniques for Microfluidics | Stavrakis | |
| 14.00-16.00 | Practical (only in person) | Secchi, Ugolini, Weiss | HIF B 92 (E 11) |
| Tuesday 16/06 | |||
| 8.30-11.00 | Mastering Microfluidics: Tips and Tricks for Successful Experiments | Secchi, Ugolini | HIL E 11 |
| 11.15 – 12.00 | Data Acquisition in Microfluidics: Strategies and Techniques | Ugolini | |
| 14.00-16.00 | Practical (only in person) | Secchi, Ugolini, Weiss | HIF B 92 (D 80.2) |
| Wednesday 17/06 | |||
| 8.30- 9.30 | Microfluidics for chemical applications | Stavrakis | HIF E 11 |
| 9.45 – 12.00 | Image Processing Applied to Microfluidics | Keegstra, Raach | |
| 14.00-16.00 | Group Activity (only in person) | Ugolini, Weiss | HIF E 11 |
| Thursday 18/06 | |||
| 8.30-9.30 | Microfluidics for Microbial Ecology | Weiss | HIF E 11 |
| 9.45-10.15 | Exploring Chemotaxis with Microfluidics: Techniques and Applications | Ugolini | |
| 10.15-10.45 | Biofilms in Flow: When Microfludics Meets Rheology | Secchi | |
| 11.00-12.00 | Droplet-based Microfluidics: Fundamentals and its Advanced Applications | Stavros | |
| 14.00-16.00 | Group Activity (only in person) | Secchi, Ugolini | HIF D 80.2 |
| Friday 19/06 | |||
| 8.30-12.00 | Students’ Presentations (only in person) | Secchi, Ugolini, Weiss, Stavrakis | HIF E 11 |
In-person attendance: registration until 15.05.2026 – See course description.
Online participation: registration until 10.06.2026 – Register here.
Organizers: Dr. E. Secchi and Dr. G. S. Ugolini (D-BAUG), Dr. S. Stavrakis (D-CHEM), Dr. A. Weiss (Eawag)
Contact: esecchi@ethz.ch