MARCH 10-12, 2026 | RALEIGH, NC
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  SMPConnect  


About SPMConnect

SPMConnect is an annual AFM-based conference to foster and support the AFM community in terms of idea exchange, best practices development, mentoring, and career development. In addition to research talks, in line with the industrial/innovation theme of the broader TCW meeting, SPMConnect2026 will feature panel discussions on Perspectives from Early-Career Scientists and Perspectives from Industry and plenty of opportunities for AFM researchers and scientists to meet, network and exchange ideas.

This conference aims to bring together users from a wide variety of disciplines including polymer science, biology, energy, computing, materials science, and more who share an interest in SPM as an instrument to explore nanoscale phenomena and characterization. SPMConnect aims to include scientists and researchers from a wide variety of backgrounds including industry, instrumentation vendors, academia, and national labs. Technical abstracts for both oral and poster presentation are welcomed with topics for SPMConnect listed below.

Submit Your Abstract - Due January 9

Please first review the information for authors — abstract submission guidelines.


Topics & Application Areas
  • Data-driven and automated SPM
  • Multi-modal SPM
  • SPM to measure nanoscale dynamics
  • SPM in biology
  • SPM for new materials
  • Nanomechanical measurements with SPM
  • SPM for low dimensional materials
  • SPM in liquid environments
  • Other
 

Symposium Co-Chairs


Nina Balke

Nina Balke

Associate Professor

North Carolina State University

Richard Sheridan

Richard Sheridan

Research Scientist

Duke University


Marti Checa Nualart

Marti Checa Nualart

R&D Staff Scientist

Oak Ridge National Laboratory



Key Speakers


Ricardo Garcia

Frontiers in force microscopy: Interfacial liquids, cell mechanobiology and nanomechanics

Ricardo Garcia

Keynote Speaker, Professor,

Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid CSIC, Spain

Hanna Cho

Quantifying Multiphysical Responses in Biomaterials Through Multimodal AFM

Hanna Cho

Associate Professor,

Ohio State


Yongtao Liu

Navigating the Microscopic World with AEcroscopy: From High-Throughput and AI-Driven Experiments to Human–AI Synergy

Yongtao Liu

R&D Staff,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Xiaoji Xu

Peak Force Tapping Mode-based Multimodal Infrared Spectroscopy

Xiaoji Xu

Associate Professor,

Lehigh University


Prathima Nalam

Unraveling the Nanoscale Mechanical and Rheological Properties of Hydrogels through Colloid-Probe Force Spectroscopy

Prathima Nalam

Associate Professor,

University of Buffalo

Roger Proksch

2,000 Femtometers Below the Noise: Frontiers in Accurate and Quiet Atomic Force Microscopy

Roger Proksch

Chief Technology Officer,

Oxford Instruments


Cassandra Phillips

A versatile Peak Force IR variation for correlative nanoscale chemical and mechanical AFM-IR

Cassandra Phillips

Product Manager,

Bruker

Hansol Lee

AFM-nanoDMA for Measuring Nanoscale Viscoelastic Properties in Industrial Research

Hansol Lee

Senior Research Engineer,

3M


Jonathan Adams

Rapid AFM imaging and mechanical characterization using photothermal cantilever actuation

Jonathan Adams

Researcher,

Nanosurf






 

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