From spaceflight to the beamline: Doctoral researcher takes part in the 2026 ESA-FAIR summer school

August 28, 2026

What does cosmic radiation do to our cells — and how can particle accelerators on Earth help protect astronauts in space? PhD student Alexandra Waldherr from the Department of Protein Evolution at the Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen had the chance to explore these questions and more at the 2026 ESA-FAIR Summer School in Darmstadt.

The ESA-FAIR Summer School participants photographed in front of the main building at the ESA ESOC site — The ESA-FAIR Summer School participants at the ESA ESOC site with Marco Durante (Head of Biophysics at GSI), Paolo Ferri (former Head of ESA Space Operations), Jan Wörner (former ESA General Director, Head of ESA) and astronaut Thomas Reiter.

© Alexandra Waldherr

The ESA-FAIR Summer School participants at the ESA ESOC site with Marco Durante (Head of Biophysics at GSI), Paolo Ferri (former Head of ESA Space Operations), Jan Wörner (former ESA General Director, Head of ESA) and astronaut Thomas Reiter.

© Alexandra Waldherr

Only 20 early-career researchers from around the world were selected to take part in the intensive two-week programme at the European Space Operations Centre (ESA/ESOC) and the GSI/FAIR particle accelerator facility (Helmholtz Institute for Biophysics) in Darmstadt. Lectures on space radiation and radiation protection were combined with hands-on experiments in radiation biology and biophysics.

For Alexandra, whose research interests include the effects of ionizing radiation on proteins, the programme offered a great opportunity to connect her research with radiation biology. Having previously worked with ESA's Space Medicine team, she was keen to deepen her knowledge of radiation biology and see first-hand how biological experiments are conducted at particle accelerators.

The first week featured lectures by the astronauts, Thomas Reiter and Christer Fuglesang, and lead operation officers at ESA followed by a theoretical examination. In the second, participants moved from theory to practice at the Helmholtz GSI accelerator and newly constructed FAIR site, carrying out laboratory work and developing their own proposals for beamtime experiments.

Alexandra stood observing the Hades particle detector — Alexandra next to the HADES particle detector at the Helmholtz GSI/FAIR accelerator site.

Alexandra next to the HADES particle detector at the Helmholtz GSI/FAIR accelerator site.

A highlight was a visit to the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, as well as the opportunity to see the impressive scale of the GSI and FAIR facilities first-hand. From large particle detectors to radiation-induced chromosome and DNA damage viewed under the microscope, the programme offered a vivid glimpse of how physics and molecular biology come together in radiation research..

According to Marco Durante, Head of Helmholtz Biophysics, "The summer school brings together crème-de-la-crème young scientists with a passion to bring novel experiments to the beamline and contribute to our understanding of radiation damage, radiation protection and possibly radiotherapy treatments in the future“.

For Alexandra, the experience offered fresh perspectives on studying protein damage and cellular responses to radiation — and perhaps new ideas for where her own research could go next.