Programs & Events
 April 13 - 17, 2026 Modularity of Biological Systems |  May 11 - 15, 2026 Evolutionary Games: Mathematical Theory and Biological Insights |  June 1 - 5, 2026 Extreme Events in Biological Functions |
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 June 15 - 18, 2026 Internal Conflicts and Organismal Adaptation: Mathematical Foundations |  June 30 - July 2, 2026 Cell State Transitions and Fate (in)decisions |  August 24 - 28, 2026 Spin Glass Theory and High-Dimensional Landscapes in Biology |
 August 10 - 12, 2026 NITMB MathBio Ideathon |  September 14-18, 2026 Biological Function in Space and Time: From Forces and Cues to Emerging Decision-making in Fates, States, and Shapes |  September 28 - October 2, 2026 Data-driven modeling, simulation and inference for neurobiological problems |
 October 19 - 23, 2026 Representing and Learning Morphology and Shape Dynamics from Biological Data |  November 9 - 13, 2026 Multi-scale Biological Adaptation to Environmental Variability |  June 14, 2027 - June 18, 2027 Mathematical Modeling of Tumor-Immune Dynamics and Immunotherapies |
 May 17 - 21, 2027 Recent Advances and New Directions in Geometric Methods for Computational Biology and Medicine |
Convening activities are critical for bridging gaps between mathematics and biology, and for uniting these disciplines over major questions of common interest. They are organized around broad conceptual themes common to mathematics and biology and highlight opportunities for mathematicians to develop new mathematics that have a direct impact on biology research.
These are open to participants from institutions worldwide and aim to include researchers from both disciplines. Activities are designed to encourage discovery, stimulate collaborations among participants, and build a dialogue concerning the practice of research by mathematicians and biologists. Convening programs will be held in the NSF-Simons National Institute for Theory and Mathematics in Biology space located in the John Hancock Center in downtown Chicago.
About Convening Activities
Workshops
A Scientific Workshop at NITMB is a focused program in a specific area of current research at the intersection of biological and mathematical sciences. NITMB workshops range from 3 to 5 days and typically have only a few formal talks, with the bulk of the time allocated for tutorials, discussions, brainstorming, informal chalk talks, and initiating research projects within smaller groups.
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Proposals to host a Workshop can be submitted at any time.
Long Programs
A Long Program or Scientific Focus at NITMB ranges from 4 weeks to 12 weeks, addressing major themes at the intersection of biological and mathematical sciences. NITMB Long Programs/Scientific Focuses are composed of a few workshops, tutorials, trainings, and allow long-term visits to NITMB.
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Proposals to host a Long Program can be submitted at any time.
Emerging Directions
Workshops
Potential to Identify Emerging Research Directions: NITMB also hosts Emerging Directions Workshops in rapid response to new biological discoveries and new advances in mathematical approaches. These are intensive, multi-day gatherings on timely topics and challenges attended by outside participants and NITMB members.