The APBioNET Student Council is pleased to announce the second edition of its Student Council Symposium (APBSCS26), an academic forum designed for undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and early‑career researchers in bioinformatics, computational biology, and related disciplines. The symposium will take place on 14 September 2026 at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in Penang. Its core objectives are to provide a constructive venue for the presentation of ongoing research, to enable direct feedback from both peers and established investigators, and to foster a supportive professional network among the next generation of computational biologists.

Submissions are invited across a broad range of topics, including single‑cell and spatial omics, artificial intelligence in biomedicine, cancer genomics, protein structure and design, metagenomics, systems biology, and bioinformatics education. Contributions describing methodological advances as well as applied studies are equally welcome, and presenters may choose between oral and poster formats.

Beyond the formal programme, the symposium serves as a gateway to the wider APBioNET community, a regional network of bioinformatics researchers and educators. Participants will have the opportunity to gain fresh perspectives, establish cross‑institutional collaborations, and acquire tangible career insights. The symposium encourages sustained engagement beyond the event, helping attendees remain connected with peers and mentors.

Attendees can expect a day of rigorous scholarly exchange, professional development, and lasting connections during the symposium. Participants who wish to extend the experience may remain for the main InCoB/ISCB‑APAC 2026 conference. Whether presenting work, attending sessions, or networking informally, every participant leaves the symposium with enhanced capacity to advance research and careers.