School and Workshop on the Physics of Life

School: March 24 – 28, 2025

Workshop: March 28 – 30, 2025

ICTP-SAIFR, São Paulo, Brazil

ICTP-SAIFR/IFT-UNESP

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Through minicourses and research seminars and discussion sessions, this school and workshop will explore the fundamental physical principles that govern living systems across scales, from macromolecules to birds. Minicourse topics during the school will include:

  • Molecular and Cell Biophysics
  • Neurophysics
  • Dynamical Systems and Collective Motion
  • Machine Learning Tools for Biological Physics

The school is designed for graduate students interested in the intersection of physics and life sciences from a physics perspective. Leading experts will deliver in-depth lectures on cutting-edge experiments, theoretical frameworks, and emerging trends in the field.

Immediately following the school will be a 3-day workshop with invited seminars by researchers from Latin America, as well as discussion sessions addressing how to build a network of biological physicists in the region.

Applicants are invited to submit abstracts for poster presentations during both the school and workshop.

There is no registration fee. Limited funding is available to support travel and local expenses for school participants and local expenses for workshop participants.

Organizers:

  • William Bialek (Princeton University)
  • Silvina Ponce Dawson (Universidad de Buenos Aires)
  • Roberto Kraenkel (Universidade Estadual Paulista)
  • José Onuchic (Rice University)
  • Marcus Aguiar (Universidade de Campinas)
  • Antonio José Costa-Filho (Universidade de São Paulo)
  • Vitor Barbanti Pereira Leite (Universidade Estadual Paulista)
  • Danilo B. Liarte (ICTP-SAIFR & Universidade Estadual Paulista)
  • Pablo de Castro (ICTP-SAIFR & Universidade Estadual Paulista)

 

Click HERE for online application to the school
Application deadline for school: January 11, 2025

 

Click HERE for online application to the workshop
Application deadline for workshop: February 17, 2025

Lecturers

Lecturers

  • Olga Dudko (University of California at San Diego, USA) – How living systems accomplish things on time: beating the speed limit in genomic interactions, viral infection, and neuronal communication
  • Gabriel B. Mindlin (Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina) – Artificial intelligence and dynamics applied to biophysics: the case of birdsong
  • Tomás S. Grigera (Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina) – Statistical physics of collective motion
  • Faruck Morcos (University of Texas at Dallas, USA) – From biomolecular prediction to design, the impact of machine learning in biological physics

Registration

Click HERE for online application
Application deadline: January 11, 2025

 

Click HERE for online application to the workshop
Application deadline for workshop: February 17, 2025

Program

TBA

 The schedule might be changed.

Additional Information

Attention! Some participants in ICTP-SAIFR activities have received email from fake travel agencies asking for credit card information. All communication with participants will be made by ICTP-SAIFR staff using an e-mail “@ictp-saifr.org”. We will not send any mailings about accommodation that require a credit card number or any sort of deposit.

BOARDING PASS: All participants, whose travel has been provided or will be reimbursed by ICTP-SAIFR, should bring the boarding pass  upon registration. The return boarding pass (PDF, if online check-in, scan or picture, if physical) should be sent to secretary@ictp-saifr.org by e-mail.

COVID-19: Brazilians and foreigners no longer have to present proof of vaccination before entering the country.

Visa information: Nationals from several countries in Latin America and Europe are exempt from tourist visa. Nationals from Australia, Canada and USA are exempt from tourist visa until April 10, 2025. Please check here which nationals need a tourist visa to enter Brazil.

Accommodation: Participants, whose accommodation will be provided by the institute, will stay at The Universe Flat. Hotel recommendations are available here.

Poster presentation: Participants who are presenting a poster MUST BRING A PRINTED BANNER . The banner size should be at most 1 m (width) x 1,5 m (length). We do not accept A4 or A3 paper. Click here to see what a banner looks like: http://designplast.ind.br/produtos/detalhe/impressao-digital/banner/119/9