The 2026 PPCDL Workshops will be held during the month of March 2026 and are available to NPDN members, partners, and colleagues. See calendar below for the 2026 workshop schedule.
The workshops are supported by the USDA and the Plant Protection Act 7721 funding, which means diagnosticians can request a scholarship to cover most travel expenses.
The PPCDL Workshops are hosted by the Scientists of the Plant Pathogen Confirmatory Diagnostics Laboratory (PPCDL) in Laurel, Maryland. The instructors and workshop planning team have developed a schedule that offers a wide variety of topics and both in-person and virtual delivery options.
2026 PPCDL workshop tentative timeline:
- Registration: opens - 11-03-25; closes - 11-11-25
- Invitations: begin sending - 12-01-25; responses must be received back within 3 days
- Letter A – go ahead to begin travel planning-begin sending letters 12-18-25
- Letter B – pre-workshop details-sent 3 weeks before each workshop
Course Descriptions and Agendas
Workshop offerings may vary from year to year based on needs. For those interested in learning of all the topics offered by the PPCDL Workshop Instructors over the years, the workshop titles and descriptions are available in the PPCDL Workshop Catalog. If a topic or topics are of interest, consider requesting that topic(s) in the annual “Topics Needed Survey”, which is available each October. This survey gathers current needs to help the planning team members develop the workshop topics offered each year. If you are interested in these workshops, we need to hear your opinions! Look for the Topics Needed Survey when it is posted here and announced through the NPDN member listserv in October each year.
Click here for a downloadable printable version of the 2026 workshops and descriptions.
Registration
Registration is OPEN. Registration closes 11-11-25 at 11:59pm.
Go to 2026 workshops and descriptions for details about each of the workshops offered in 2026
Please use the form below to submit your applications.
PPCDL Workshop Registration Request Form
Like in previous years, the workshop coordinators are requesting each laboratory submit a laboratory plan so they learn from the submissions the priority order for topics and personnel for each lab.
The registration form allows laboratories to enter a first choice in-person workshop…this should be your highest priority request…and a first choice virtual workshop. Those that do not pick a first choice in-person workshop may choose two virtual options. Laboratories will have the option of selecting three more additional workshop requests.
Travel and reimbursement information
PLANNING
The start of travel planning begins with the receipt of the Letter A. After the workshop participants confirm their workshop invitation, they will receive the Letter A. DO NOT make travel arrangements until you receive the Letter A. Letter A is the signal telling you it is OK to begin your travel planning.
Letter A and Letter B for each workshop will be posted here when ready for instructors and participants.
DO NOT PLAN to leave before the completion of the workshop. If you attend an in-person workshop and hope to return home on the final day, do not book a return flight before 8:00pm, you will need at least 3 hours to comfortably get to the airport. The airports in this area are very busy around the clock, so plan for lengthy ground travel times and long lines at check-in and getting through security.
More details about planning can be found in the PPCDL Guidelines document.
REIMBURSEMENTS
Cornell University will reimburse YOUR HOME INSTITUTION. Participants must follow their home institution’s travel procedures and policies. PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR REIMBURSEMENT TO YOUR INSTITUTION FIRST. When a participant submits their travel expense letter to the Cornell coordinators and their institution’s representatives at the same time, corrections often follow. The institution reviewers may find problems with the participants submitting materials that require a change. When this happens, it causes a re-submission and longer processing time to get the reimbursement back to the institution.
More details about reimbursements can be found in the PPCDL Guidelines document.
Workshop Policies and Guidelines
The PPCDL Workshop Guidelines were created to provide helpful information and tips for those planning to attend an PPCDL Workshop. The guide provides workshop procedures and guidelines pertaining to registration, how to receive specific workshop details, how to make travel arrangements and how to request travel expense reimbursement. The guide includes the answers to the most frequently asked questions and common occurrences from past workshop seasons.
Each workshop participant should understand their institution’s rules pertaining to travel arrangements and reimbursements. The workshop coordinators cannot override institution rules.
The workshop coordinators hope the information supplied in this document, coupled with the understanding of each participant’s institution procedures, will result in a stress-free planning and reimbursement process. Please read the entire document!
The Workshop Policies document covers both the MFIT and PPCDL Workshops. The policy document provides key rules and guidelines and covers the expectations related to workshop registration, attendance, requirements, and travel expense reimbursement.
If you have questions about this program, contact ppcdl_workshops@npdn.org.
