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August 24 - 28, 2026

Spin Glass Theory and High-Dimensional Landscapes in Biology

Location

TRAVEL Applications Deadline

LOCAL Applications Deadline

Workshop Organizers

NITMB

Overview

Modern biology is grappling with a new class of problems defined by overwhelming complexity. From understanding evolution to deciphering the neural code, we are no longer studying linear chains of cause and effect but vast, high-dimensional systems of interacting components. The central challenge is to navigate the immense “landscape” that are mountainous terrains with countless peaks and valleys. On the other hand, arising from statistical physics, the theoretical framework of spin glasses was created precisely to describe systems driven by disorders and frustration - the exact same principles that shape biological complexity. The primary goal of this workshop is to cultivate a shared language and foster concrete collaborations based on this theoretical foundation to produce paradigm-shifting advances. By uniting mathematicians, physicists, and biologists, we aim to seed a new, interdisciplinary field capable of tackling previously intractable problems in evolution, neuroscience, and immunology.

National Science Foundation logo
Simons Foundation Logo

Funded by
US National Science Foundation DMS-2235451
and Simons Foundation MP-TMPS-00005320

Location icon

Mailing Address

875 N Michigan Ave.

Suite 3500

Chicago, IL, 60611

Building Entrance

172 E. Chestnut St.

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The University of Chicago logo
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©2025 NSF-Simons National Institute for Theory and Mathematics in Biology

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