Hands-on Minicourse on Fundamentals of Biological Physics

Biological systems operate across multiple scales, ranging from molecular signaling inside cells to population-level dynamics in ecosystems. Despite their complexity, many of these processes can be described and understood using concepts and tools from physics. In recent years, the interface between physics and biology has emerged as a vibrant interdisciplinary research frontier, combining ideas from statistical mechanics, soft matter, information theory, and dynamical systems to tackle problems in cell biology, ecology, and collective behavior.

Building on the success of the previous edition, this year’s minicourse will first introduce key theoretical and computational approaches that have proven successful in modeling and analyzing biological systems, and then move to specific problems of biological interest. The minicourse will be based on problem-based learning. Students will work in interdisciplinary groups under the guidance of the lecturers to tackle problems carefully prepared to be both challenging and instructive, often representing real, open scientific problems. Topics will include diffusion and stochastic processes, collective behavior between moving entities, cellular signaling, active matter, movement ecology and individual-based models. The hands-on sessions will be complemented by lectures that will give an overview of the area and the theoretical fundamentals of the exercises students will be tackling.

The minicourse is aimed at advanced undergraduate and early graduate students in physics or in biology with a strong quantitative background, but other interested students are also welcome to apply. No prior expertise in biological modeling is required. Participants are welcome to submit an abstract for poster presentation. We also encourage students who participated in last year’s program to apply again, as new problems, topics and groups offer new learning opportunities.

This is an initiative promoted by the Physics of Life South American Network, PoLSAN. More details on PoLSAN can be found here: www.ictp-saifr.org/polsan

Previous edition: https://www.ictp-saifr.org/mfbp2025/ 

Announcement:

Click HERE for online application

Application deadline: September 3, 2026

Lecturers & courses

• Silvina Ponce Dawson (UBA) – Cell signaling
• Pablo de Castro (ICTP-SAIFR) – Statistical Mechanics of Self-Propelled Organisms
• Rafael Menezes (ICTP-SAIFR) – Individual Based Models in Ecology

Announcement:

Click HERE for online application

Application deadline: September 3, 2026

 The schedule might be changed.

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. Also, if you are staying at Hotel Intercity the Universe Paulista, please confirm with the Uber/Taxi driver that the hotel is located at Rua Pamplona 83 in Bela Vista (and not in Jardim Etelvina).

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.

Visa information: Nationals from several countries in Latin America and Europe are exempt from tourist visa. Nationals from Australia, Canada and USA are required to apply for a tourist visa.

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

Power outlets: The standard power outlet in Brazil is type N (two round pins + grounding pin). Some European devices are compatible with the Brazilian power outlets. US devices will require an adapter.

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.

Badge: You will receive an identification badge upon registration, which must be used during the entire event. Without the badge, it may not be possible to enter the venue.

Security issues: Although São Paulo is a relatively safe city, be careful when using cellphones on the street, avoid isolated areas at night, and be aware when crossing the street that cars may not stop for pedestrians. Also, please do not leave valuable items like laptops unattended even for short breaks. At the IFT-UNESP, there are storage lockers available and keys can be obtained with our secretaries.