The Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS) has become one of Europe's largest organizations in the molecular life sciences, with over 36,000 members across more than 35 biochemistry and molecular biology societies in different countries of Europe and neighbouring regions. The annual FEBS congress was held in Berlin this year. The Young Scientists Forum (YSF) has been a satellite meeting of the FEBS Congress organized by young scientists for young scientists. It provides a pre-Congress international platform for PhD students and postdocs from the FEBS area to present their own research, and also includes keynote lectures and a roundtable event on skills and career issues. This year?s YSF took place for the 15th time.