• Format: Face-to-face

• Date: 12 to 14 March 2025 (three days)

• Location: University of Évora, Colégio Espírito Santo, (historic building), room 124

• Local Organizer: Clara Gracio (email: mgracio@uevora.pt)

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Overview

This school is designed to provide essential insights into bridging the general theory of dynamical systems with the informational content of genetic sequences, both coding and non-coding. This innovative and groundbreaking research direction opens up exciting opportunities for young scientists to launch or enhance their careers by engaging in interdisciplinary research at the frontier of Biology, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, and Engineering.

The program will offer a foundational introduction to the theory of dynamical systems, followed by a focused exploration of its potential connections to the origins and structures of genetic sequences. Specific topics include:

• Coding Sequences and the Genetic Code: Investigating how dynamical systems theory relates to the evolution and organization of coding sequences within the genetic code.

• Coding and Non-Coding Sequences: Examining their role in error correction, computation, and their implications for understanding biological information systems.

• The Mystery of Absent Sequences: Using the non-existence of certain genetic sequences as a practical framework to discuss theoretical connections between dynamical systems and genomic patterns.

Additionally, the program will delve into reservoir computing as a bridge between machine learning, dynamical systems, and genomic sequences. To complement the theoretical discussions, participants will gain hands-on experience with bioinformatics approaches to analyzing absent sequences and uncovering theoretical patterns amidst the vast biological data generated from sequencing efforts across diverse ecosystems.

This training school is an exceptional opportunity to gain cutting-edge knowledge and practical skills while contributing to a rapidly evolving field with significant interdisciplinary impact.


Audience

The summer school is specifically designed for early-career researchers, including doctoral and postdoctoral students from the life sciences, as well as the physical and natural sciences and engineering. It welcomes participant’s eager to explore the profound challenges and opportunities posed by modern biology, particularly those at the intersection of biology, physics, mathematics, computer science, and engineering.

Registration and financial support

The DYNALIFE COST Action will provide financial support for a limited number of participants. The participants interested in the support should fill the registration form at the school website: https://www.dynalife.eu/evora-2025 with a motivation paragraph for participating, a CV, and also if they intend to present a poster.

Registration deadline: 3rd March, 2025.

• Registration form

Contacts

Local Organizers:

• Clara Grácio (mgracio@uevora.pt)

• Rosário Laureano (maria.laureano@iscte-iul.pt)

• Sara Fernandes (saf@uevora.pt)

• Luís Mário Lopes

Outputs
Tacit Knowledge: know-how transfer among all actors and development of interdisciplinary expertise.
Trainers and trainees shall work together and exchange their knowledge in a bidirectional mode. Collaboration between WG1,2 and 3 will be promoted.
 
Scientific Program

Course1:  

General introduction to the theory of dynamical systems with a biologically tailored emphasis.
Course coordinators: 

• Clara Gracio, Research Centre for Mathematics and Applications (CIMA) - Universidade de Évora - Portugal (PT), Co-Leader of WG1 of Dynalife

• Julyan Cartwright Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra and Istituto de Fìsica Carlos I, Universidad de Granada, Granada - Spain (SP), vice-chair of Dynalife

Course2:  

Natural computing –genetic code perspective
Course coordinator: 

• Natasa Misic, Research and Development institute Lola Ltd - Serbia (RS), Leader of WG1 of Dynalife

Course3:
Genetic coding, absent sequences, and dynamical systems
Course coordinator: 

• Diego L. Gonzalez, Associated Researcher CNR Bologna, and UNIBO, Dept. of Statistical Sciences - Italy (IT), Chair of Dynalife

Course4:
Reservoir computing, dynamical systems, and prediction of genetic sequences
Course coordinator: 

• Oreste Piro, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Mallorca - Spain (SP), Responsible for Conceptual Integration and Research Excellence of Dynalife

Course5:
DNA Sequences at a glance
Course coordinator: 

• Diogo Pratas, IEETA, Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro - Portugal (PT)

Course6:
Genetic big data and the opportunities for the discovery and characterization of novel biological entities
Course coordinator: 

• Marcos de la Peña, IBMCP, CSIC-Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Valencia - Spain (SP)

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