APEXChemistry
APEX Chemistry 2025
APEX Chemistry 2025 takes place in Bucharest, Romania, between July 20th and August 9th
We are no longer accepting applications for this camp.
- July 20, 2025 - August 9, 2025
- București, România
APEX-Chemistry 2025 is an intensive and immersive 3-weeks-long summer residential program offering a unique opportunity to get a taste of organic chemistry research and scientific discovery. The participants – a maximum number of 36 – will be able to experience the world of research from within, as they will explore new chemical concepts under the guidance of top internationally recognized university professors (Jean-Marie Lehn, Adrian Șalic, Marius Andruh, Ivan Huc, Niculina Hădade, Mihaela Matache) and PhD students.
APEX Chemistry 2025 includes lectures, seminars, lab activities, visits to research institutes and chemical industry, as well as meetings with renowned scientistis. Free time activities are also foreseen, in order for the participants to discover Bucharest, the capital city of Romania.
A high-level training in rigorous thought and abstract reasoning is an increasingly vital asset to thrive in today’s world, regardless the type of career you aim for. APEX’s goal is to provide such training as well as to create a community of young scientists highly passionate for chemistry. We cultivate and encourage excellence. The language of communication is English.
APEX Chemistry 2025 invited lecturers
- Jean-Marie Lehn, University of Strasbourg
- Adrian Șalic, Harvard Medical School
- Marius Andruh, Romanian Academy Institute of Organic and Supramolecular Chemistry
- Ivan Huc, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich
- Niculina Hădade, Babeș-Bolyai University
- Mihaela Matache, University of Bucharest
- Mihaela Florea, Research and Development Institute for Materials Physics
APEX Chemistry is designed for students who will graduate at least 10th grade in the school year 2024-2025 (or have gained basic knowledge of organic chemistry). Students work under the leadership and direction of university professors, PhD students and staff, attend lectures and seminars, participate in hands-on experiments under supervision by very qualified staff, while making new friendships.
The list of theoretical topics that will be covered:
- Supramolecular and adaptive chemistry: how molecules interact with each other
- Molecular recognition: what are the fundamental features of molecules so that interactions among them do happen
- The shapes of proteins and nucleic acids– artificial intelligence in chemistry: how modern computational methods helped solve some of the most difficult, yet simple to rationalize.
- Design vs. screening in drug development: what are the classical and modern ways to discover new medicines
- Sculpting molecules: engineering new shapes: how to design and synthesise molecules with precise shapes
- Molecular probes for visualizing cellular processes: what tools can chemists use in order to observe biological processes in living cells
- Experimental design and research-based projects: students will receive a small research project, which will be experimentally realized and presented upon completion.
Organic chemistry is at the core of understanding these topics and the students will be introduced into these fascinating areas that are at the forefront of science nowadays.
The experimental topics that will be covered include:
- Familiarizing students with reagents, glassware and laboratory equipment
- Key concepts and techniques in organic chemistry laboratory
- Monitoring the progress of chemical reactions
- Spectroscopic analysis of chemical compounds in solution and solid state
- Organize, analyze, and draw appropriate conclusions for experimental data.
Activities and demonstrations in these programs are designed to be safe and students are taught standard laboratory safety techniques. The camp also includes career exploration opportunities, games and sports.
Please download the problems file and send us your solutions before June 22nd, 2025. We are very interested in seeing how you think the solutions and do not worry if you can’t solve all of them.
Accommodation is provided in the facilities of the University of Bucharest, LEU C. The dormitory has rooms with two beds, specific furniture, shared toilets, spaces for preparing and serving meals and laundry and a room with bathroom for people with disabilities. Food will also be included.
- Address: 1-3 Iuliu Maniu Boulevard, District 6, Bucharest
- Public transport
Metro: Politehnica
Buses: 61, 62, 69, 90, 93, 96, 236, 136, 336 - More info and images of the accommodation facilities are available here.
It is not our goal to do so. Of course, participating in APEX Scientific events will give you advantages if you decide to participate in international competitions, but our goal is to provide you with immersive experience in real life of high-level science, that goes well beyond increasing your capacity to solve Olympiads-type problems. Participation at APEX will surely be an advantage if you apply to top universities.
Indicative price at your charge is 1500 euros for one camp. This is made possible by very generous support from our sponsors and partners; the real cost of the event being in fact much higher, the difference being generously covered by our sponsors.
Although some of the topics are new for high school students and may sound difficult to handle, the teaching will be at introductory level, to help you familiarize yourself with the fundamental fields and discover these fascinating topics that are trending in the field of Chemistry today. We won’t give marks, but we promise to have fun with chemistry! Students who are interested in the fascinating science of chemistry will find inspiration under the guidance of world-class professors in a unique intellectual environment.
Our professors, who will present how knowledge in organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, biochemistry etc., are used to create concepts that lead to the evolution of science in general.
- We will study reversible reactions in organic chemistry, useful for dynamic chemistry, such as imine or hydrazone bond formation.
- We will study reactions that are very useful to create C-C and C-N bonds, such as metal-catalyzed cross coupling reactions, both practically and theoretically. These reactions and their understanding are crucial for modern chemistry.
- We will study classes of organic compounds that are very useful in creating molecules used in biology.
- We will learn how to synthesize such molecules and how to characterize them.