Join Us for the 2025 Microscopy Hackathon
Colorado School of Mines Partner Site

Overview

We are thrilled to announce that we are partnering with Dr. Sergei Kalinin's group at the University of Tennessee Knoxville to serve as a partner site for the upcoming Microscopy Hackathon. This exciting event will be held in a hybrid format from December 16-18, 2025, and we are proud to host an in-person site at the Colorado School of Mines.

Following the success of the 2024 hackathon, this event continues to bridge the gap between microscopy and machine learning. It offers a unique opportunity for students, researchers, and professionals to collaboratively tackle real-world challenges in materials science. We are excited to bring this event to the Denver Metro area and invite students from all local universities and colleges to participate.

We are incredibly excited to partner on this initiative and look forward to welcoming a diverse group of thinkers and innovators. Whether you are an experienced programmer or a materials scientist eager to learn more about automation, we encourage you to join us. Let's build the future of microscopy together.

What is the Microscopy Hackathon?

The Microscopy Hackathon is an intensive, multi-day event focused on developing innovative software solutions for microscopy. Participants will form teams to work on projects at the cutting edge of materials science, with a focus on:

• Autonomous Experimentation: Developing and implementing algorithms that allow microscopes to make decisions and run experiments with minimal human intervention.

• AI and Machine Learning: Applying deep learning, computer vision, and data analytics to extract new insights from complex microscopy data.

• Data-Driven Discovery: Creating workflows that accelerate the pace of materials discovery and characterization.

This is a hands-on opportunity to see how the future of scientific research is being shaped by autonomous science and to contribute to meaningful, open-source projects.

Why You Should Participate

This event is more than just a coding competition; it's a chance to immerse yourself in a rapidly growing field alongside peers and leading experts. The benefits of participating include:

• Networking: Connect with fellow students, industry professionals, and leading academics from the national lab and university communities. Build relationships that can lead to future collaborations and career opportunities.

• Skill Development: Gain practical experience in Python, data science, and machine learning applied to real scientific instruments and datasets. Learn from mentors and see how your skills can solve tangible research problems.

• Impact: Contribute to projects that have the potential to become published, peer-reviewed work. The tools and workflows developed during the hackathon will be made available to the broader scientific community.

• Career Advancement: Enhance your resume and gain visibility in the fields of materials science, data science, and scientific computing.

Event Details

• Dates: December 16-18, 2025

• Location: Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (Specific room/building to be announced)

• Format: Hybrid. Participants can join us in person or connect virtually with the main event hosted by the University of Tennessee Knoxville.

• Registration: For more information and to register for the event, please visit the official Microscopy Hackathon Website. Be sure to indicate your interest in participating at the Colorado School of Mines partner site.