Flow, Geometric Motion, Deformation and Mass Transport in Physiological Processes

This program is primarily for graduate students of IMA Participating Institutions (PIs). In order to participate, students must complete the online application form and provide a personal statement and (1) a letter of nomination from the PI chair (for students from a PI) or (2) a recommendation letter (for students from institutions that are not a PI).

The program will expose graduate students to the fundamentals of mathematical and computational studies in mechanisms that underlie physiological and materials processes, including the motion of biomembranes, solid-fluid interaction, and the morphogenesis of growing tissues. These processes play a key role in cell biology and biological physics. Understanding how to model, analyze, and simulate the basic elements of physiological processes from the molecular to the one-cell to the multi-cell level can possibly pave the way to improving drug designs. The program will also familiarize students with basic tools and techniques from the theory and numerical analysis of nonlinear partial differential equations and the associated free-boundary problems, kinetic theory, and solid and fluid mechanics. The list of invited speakers includes experts in applied and numerical analysis, mathematical modeling, computational mathematics, and experimental science. The program will provide lectures, tutorials, and hands-on lab demonstrations by senior and junior researchers.

Basic prerequisites for participants:

• Graduate or undergraduate experience in numerical analysis/numerical modeling
• Graduate or undergraduate experience in differential equations (beyond sophomore engineering course)