Serrapilheira/ICTP-SAIFR

Training Program in Quantitative Biology AND ECOLOGY

The Serrapilheira/ICTP-SAIFR Training Program in Quantitative Biology and Ecology will train young Brazilian and other Latin American scientists for world-class research on biology and ecology using the quantitative methods of mathematics, physics, and computer science. It strategically makes use of the country’s well-established excellence in mathematics and physics to tap into Brazil’s tremendous potential in life sciences.

Brazil’s ecosystems are among the richest in the world, and it is becoming increasingly clear that their inherent complexity poses enormous scientific challenges to find solutions that allow them to survive and flourish. The goal is to build an interconnected network of highly skilled scientists who can make significant contributions to advance the field in Brazil and Latin America.

To reach its goal, the training program will be highly selective and involve students at the beginning of their graduate studies who have already developed quantitative skills and are interested in applying these skills in solving cutting-edge problems in biology and ecology. Lectures in all areas of biology and ecology will be presented by international experts, and no previous knowledge of biology is required.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the first edition of the program will take place in a shorter online version during the period of July 5-31, 2021. There were online keynote presentations via Youtube on March 2 by Prof. Simon Levin (Princeton U.) (click here to watch) and on March 4 by Prof. Akiko Iwasaki (Yale U.) (click here to watch) to announce the program. Future editions of the training program will take place at ICTP-SAIFR/IFT-UNESP in São Paulo with the second edition planned for the 6 month period of July – December, 2022.

Students with quantitative skills who will have finished their undergraduate studies by the end of 2021 at a Latin-American institution can apply to participate in the four-week online training program by reading the application instructions and submitting the online application form before May 3, 2021 at 17:00 BRT.. Approximately 50 students will be accepted into the program, and priority will be given to the first 500 applications received. Confirmed lecturers in the July program are listed on this webpage, and any questions should be sent to qbioprogram@ictp-saifr.org 

In addition to attending lectures by internationally renowned researchers, students in the program will work in small
groups on a research project supervised by a postdoctoral mentor. A
pplications are open until April 8, 2021 for postdoctoral mentors who will be responsible for proposing and supervising a one-month research project.  Mentors should have a PhD in an area related to quantitative biology and can apply using the online form on this webpage. The mentor’s responsibilities will include participation in the first stages of the student selection process, acting as chair in some lectures, and supervising and mentoring the research project for a small working group of 4-5 students. Accepted mentors will receive a single 4000 BRL stipend and are invited to participate in all online lectures during the program. 

 

ICTP South American Institute for Fundamental Research
IFT-UNESP (1º andar), Rua Dr. Bento Teobaldo Ferraz 271, Bloco 2 – Barra Funda
01140-070 São Paulo, SP Brazil
+55 (11)3393 7839
qbioprogram@ictp-saifr.org

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