News

• Workshop Proposals | Next round of proposals due February 15, 2026
• Niall Mangan Video Feature
• Expanding the Palette of Mathematics in Biology Workshop Recordings
• Trevor GrandPre Affiliate Member Bio



Upcoming Events

• NITMB Seminar Series
• Modularity of Biological Systems | April 13 - 17, 2026 | Applications Open
• Evolutionary Games: Mathematical Theory and Biological Insights | May 11 - 15, 2026 | Applications open
• Extreme Events in Biological Functions | June 1 - 5, 2026 | Applications open

Opportunities

• Focused Research Group Awards
• Visitor Program
• Long Program Proposals

Next round of workshop proposals due

February 15th, 2026

We invite researchers to propose a Scientific Workshop to be hosted in downtown Chicago at NITMB.

Workshops at NITMB:

• Tackle timely and pivotal research questions at the intersection of mathematics and biology
• Receive full administrative and financial support from NITMB, including lodging, travel, and local support for all non-local participants
• Generally, convene for 2 to 5 days and host 20-75 participants
• Include discussions, brainstorming, and small group launches of new research projects

Propose a Workshop

Watch: Niall Mangan on driving discovery in biological complexity with dynamical systems

Discover innovative mathematical biology research from Niall Mangan that is driving developments in artificial intelligence (AI), green biofuels, cancer treatments, and more!

Niall Mangan is an Assistant Professor of Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics at Northwestern University. She is also a Scientific Leader at NITMB.

Watch Now

Expanding the Palette of Mathematics in Biology workshop recordings available now!

New recordings of tutorials from the 'Expanding the Palette of Mathematics in Biology' workshop are now available on the NITMB website and YouTube channel!

Watch Now

Understanding biomolecular condensates through physics: A conversation with Trevor GrandPre

Meet Trevor GrandPre, Assistant Professor of Physics at Washington University in St. Louis!

Meet Trevor GrandPre

If you'd like to be featured in a future newsletter, please contact NITMB's Digital Media Specialist, Ben Stemen (stemenb@uchicago.edu)

February NITMB Seminars

Join us virtually or in-person at NITMB for the next entries in the NITMB Seminar Series!

February 6th: Alexandria Volkening, Assistant Professor, Mathematics, Purdue University

February 13th: Stanislav Shvartsman, Professor, Molecular Biology, Princeton University

February 20th: Andrew Jones, Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Duke University

The NITMB Seminar Series brings together a mix of mathematicians and biologist to foster discussion and collaboration between the two fields. Seminars take place on Fridays from 10am - 11am at the NITMB in the John Hancock Center in downtown Chicago.

Learn More

Applications Open:

Evolutionary Games: Mathematical Theory and Biological Insights

May 11 - 15, 2026

Join us for an exploration of how evolutionary game theory (EGT) helps us understand competition, cooperation, and behavior across biological, social, and artificial systems!

This workshop will bring together an interdisciplinary community of EGT researchers to chart new directions for theory and applications. A primary aim of the workshop is to stimulate interdisciplinary collaboration and expand the methodological scope of EGT to frequency-dependent problems across scales.

Learn More

Applications Open:

Extreme Events in Biological Function

June 1 - 5, 2026

Explore how rare and extreme events can be harnessed as constructive elements in biological systems!

This workshop will bring together experts in applied stochastic processes and biological dynamics to explore the critical yet underdeveloped role of extreme and rare events in enabling reliable biological function. Through an interdisciplinary lens, the workshop aims to advance both theory and application in understanding how biological systems capitalize on rare events for robust function.

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Are you part of a research team that works on a project at intersections of mathematical and biological fields?

Consider applying for an NITMB Focused Research Group Award!

• Supports the in-person gathering of small teams (e.g., 3-6 people) for independent research
• Provides office space and meeting rooms at NITMB in downtown Chicago
• Covers non-local travel, lodging, and meals for stays up to 9 days. Teams may apply to return to continue their collaborations.
• Open to researchers in pure and applied mathematics, basic biological sciences, and related fields

Learn More

Are you faculty, research faculty, technical staff, a postdoctoral scholar, or an enrolled PhD candidate engaged in research in biological or mathematical fields?

Consider the Visitor Program of the NITMB, which provides:

• Opportunities for researchers outside the host institutions of Northwestern University and the University of Chicago to engage deeply with NITMB
• Funding for non-local researchers to come from their home institutions to NITMB in downtown Chicago
• Full access to NITMB’s science programs and facilities



Apply Now

Consider proposing a long program to be hosted in downtown Chicago by the NITMB!

Long Programs at NITMB:

• Consist of 4-10 weeks of concentrated activity in a specific area of current research interest at the intersections of biological and mathematical fields
• Receive full administrative and financial support of NITMB, including lodging, travel, and local support for all non-local participants
• Include multiple 2-5 day workshops, each hosting 25-75 participants
• Offer an opportunity to be in residence at NITMB to conduct research, collaborate with NITMB faculty and fellows, train students, and engage with affiliated visitors

Propose a Long Program