Time-Resolved Photoluminescence Course

Scope

This course provides an in-depth introduction to time-resolved photoluminescence methods, covering both fluorescence and phosphorescence across a wide temporal range, from picoseconds to milliseconds.

Participants will learn how time-resolved measurements can be used to investigate excited-state dynamics, recombination processes, and heterogeneity in a broad variety of luminescent materials. The course addresses point measurements as well as spatially resolved approaches, showing how spectroscopy-based and microscopy-based techniques complement each other.

The course builds on our more than 20 years of experience in running courses focussing on time-resolved fluorescence applications. It combines expert lectures with hands-on practical sessions, focusing on instrumentation, experimental strategies, and data analysis. Realistic measurement scenarios are emphasized, enabling participants to translate the methods directly to their own samples and research questions.

Who should attend?

This course is aimed at students, researchers, and industry scientists working with luminescent materials who want to understand and apply time-resolved photoluminescence methods.

It is particularly well suited for participants from Materials Science, including researchers working on semiconductors, nanomaterials, quantum emitters, photovoltaic and optoelectronic materials. At the same time, scientists from related fields, such as quantum technologies, chemistry, physics, or life sciences, are equally welcome, provided their samples exhibit luminescence and their research benefits from analyzing decay dynamics.

No prior experience with time-resolved methods is required.

Why should you attend?

By joining our event, you will:

• Learn the fundamental principles of time-resolved luminescence, from fast fluorescence to long-lived phosphorescence
• Understand how decay data are acquired, analyzed, and interpreted
• Explore a wide range of applications across different material classes
• Learn how point measurements and imaging approaches complement each other
• Interact directly with experts to discuss your samples, challenges, and results
• See state-of-the-art PicoQuant systems with different configurations and accessories
• Network with fellow scientists and foster new collaborations

Which topics are covered?

Attending all lectures and practical sessions will improve your understanding of the following topics:

• Instrumentation and data analysis for time-resolved luminescence
• Time-resolved measurements from ps to ms in liquids and solids
• Steady-state and time-resolved anisotropy 
• Time-Resolved Emission Spectra (TRES)
• Excitation–emission maps
• Upconversion
• Time-resolved luminescence in spectroscopy and microscopy
• Imaging methods: FLIM and PLIM

Practical sessions

Practical sessions complement the lectures and give participants hands-on experience with time-resolved luminescence measurements on a range of PicoQuant instruments. The sessions cover both point measurements and imaging experiments, including advanced microscopy configurations and data analysis workflows.

All practical sessions take place at PicoQuant (Berlin, Germany).

Information and correspondence

Tel: +49-30-1208820-87
Fax: +49-30-1208820-90
Email: trf@picoquant.com

Please note: schedule and content of this event is subject to change without notice.
 

Course instructors

The program offers in-depth lectures and practical sessions on various topics related to time-resolved photoluminescence. Get a detailed overview here: Trpl course program

Registration

Course fees

Besides full event attendance, the fee includes coffee breaks, a dinner and lunches. Attendees will be responsible for their own travel, lodging, and additional meals.
 

Financial support

To support outstanding early-career researchers, we offer a limited number of partial scholarships (50% of the academic registration fee).

Accommodation, travel, and personal expenses still need to be paid by the participants themselves. The selection of sponsored people is completely the sole decision of PicoQuant and there is no right or guarantee to receive a fee waiver.

To apply for a fee waiver, please send us your application:

• Their current research focus
• Why advanced time-resolved photoluminescence is relevant to their work
• How participation in the course will benefit their scientific development

Deadline for a fee waiver application is May 15, 2026.
Please note that only one person per research group can be considered for a fee waiver.

Terms and Conditions

Payment and Cancellations

• After online registration, you will receive an email notification including a PDF file that includes information on the payment procedure.
• All payments have to be received within 14 days after date of registration.
• We will send an email confirming your participation once we have received your payment. If payment is overdue, your registration will not be processed and will be considered invalid.
• A payment receipt will be included in our email confirmation of participation.
• Cancellation of registration must be submitted in writing or via email and is valid only with acknowledgment of receipt by PicoQuant GmbH. A refund of registration fees is dependent on the notice given:
  • For cancellations made until July 15, 2026, 75 % of the received registration fee will be reimbursed. In case of cancellations after July 15, 2026, 25 % of the registration fee will be reimbursed.
  • It is possible to name and send a substitute participant.
• No visa letters will be issued until payment of the registration fee is received and confirmed.

General

• Schedule and content of this event are subject to change without notice.
• PicoQuant may record photographs and video material of participants at the event. By registering for a PicoQuant event, you agree that we may include images of yourself (either as a full image or in parts) for promotional purposes in various publications (press releases, promotional activities, event website, etc.). This material may also appear on our internet web page or on related social media pages. If you do not want us to use pictures in which you appear, please inform us in written form until the end of the course.
• We may also share personal information of event attendees (e.g. in a contact list) with the other persons attending the same event to enable attendees to contact each other prior to, during or after the event for networking purposes. 

Cancellation of registration by PicoQuant due to force majeure

• Any circumstances beyond the reasonable control of PicoQuant, including but not limited to acts of nature, fire, severe thunderstorm, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, terror, threats, pandemics, local or international health crises, security/safety risks or flooding shall constitute “force majeure”. If the force majeure is affecting a PicoQuant event, PicoQuant will notify the participants of such event without undue delay.
• When PicoQuant is subject to force majeure, it shall be released from the performance of its obligations relating to any events (partially or wholly) to the extent that such performance is affected by the force majeure.
• PicoQuant may take reasonable steps to minimize the consequences of the force majeure on its events and is entitled to reschedule or shorten (in all cases partially or wholly) an event and any performance related to such event. 
• For termination of contract concerning an event between PicoQuant and the participant due to force majeure, this shall be without any liability for either party, except in so far as has accrued prior to the date on which the termination of the contract takes effect.
• Each party to the contract concerning the event (PicoQuant and the participant) shall itself be responsible for all direct and indirect financial consequences affecting it as a result of or in connection with the force majeure. The occurrence of force majeure shall not entitle either party to any additional payment or compensation.

Code of conduct

The open exchange of ideas and freedom of thought and expression across different fields of research are central to the aims and goals of the Time-resolved Photoluminescence Course. These require an environment that recognizes the inherent worth of every person and group, that fosters dignity, understanding, mutual respect, and embraces diversity. For these reasons, the Time-resolved Photoluminescence Course organizers are committed to providing a harassment-free course experience.

If you experience harassment or discriminatory behavior at the Time-resolved Photoluminescence Course, we encourage you to reach out to us for help.

Participants who violate this code may be sanctioned and/or expelled from the event, at the discretion of the organizers. Serious incidents may be referred to the Time-resolved Photoluminescence Course organizers for further possible action.

If you witness harassment or discriminatory behavior, please consider intervening.

Rights releases

To encourage open communication, each member of the Time-resolved Photoluminescence Course agrees that any information presented at the course, whether in a formal talk or discussion, is a private communication from the individual making the contribution and is presented with the restriction that such information is not for public use.  

Prior to quoting or publishing such information presented at a conference in any publication, written or electronic, written approval of the contributing member must first be obtained. The audio or video recording of lectures by any means, the photography of slide, and printed or electronic quotes from papers, presentations and discussion at a conference without written consent of the contributing member is prohibited. Scientific publications are not to be prepared as emanating from the conferences.  Authors are requested to omit references to the conferences in any publication, written or electronic.  These restrictions apply to each member of a conference and are intended to cover social networks, blogs, tweets or any other publication, distribution, communication or sharing of information presented or discussed at the conference. 

Guests are not permitted to attend the conference lectures.  Each member of a conference acknowledges and agrees to these restrictions when registration is accepted and as a condition of being permitted to attend a conference. 

Although PicoQuant staff will take reasonable steps to enforce the restrictions against recording and photographing conference presentations, each member of a conference assumes sole responsibility for the protection and preservation of any intellectual property rights in such member's contributions to a conference.