Organisers:
Hwayeon Ryu (Elon University, USA)
Adrianne Jenner (Queensland University of Technology)
Jennifer Flegg (University of Melbourne)
Robyn Araujo (University of Melbourne)

Program Description:

The two-week MATRIX workshop focuses on collaborative research, in small groups of under-represented genders including female-identifying researchers, each group working on an open problem in a particular area of mathematical biology guided by a senior group leader. Each group will include researchers at different career stages, from early career mathematicians to leaders in the field, to bolster leadership among senior mathematical biologists and data scientists, and to provide mentoring for early career mathematicians. Complementing the research time there will be activities engaging all participants, including lighting talks, poster session, career panels, discussions, and community-building activities. The group members will be chosen from invitees or applicants. Under-represented groups such as female-identifying researchers or non-binary individuals, and those isolated geographically from potential collaborators, are especially encouraged to apply. The benefit of such a structured program with leaders, projects and working groups planned in advance is intended to provide vertically integrated mentoring: senior leaders will meet, mentor, and collaborate with the brightest junior researchers in the field of mathematical biology on a research project of their choosing, and junior mathematicians and graduate students will develop their network of colleagues and supporters and encounter important new research areas to work in, thereby fostering a successful research career.

Participants will tackle a variety of biological and medical questions using mathematical models to understand complex system dynamics. Working in collaborative teams of five, each with a senior group mentor, participants will spend two weeks making significant progress with a research project and foster innovation in the application of mathematical, statistical, and computational methods in the resolution of problems in the biosciences.

Group 1: Spatiotemporal modelling of chytridiomycosis in frogs (Led by Jennifer Flegg and Claire Miller)
Group 2: Models for cell dynamics in developing atherosclerotic plaques (Led by Mary Myerscough)
Group 3: Mathematical epidemiology and anti-vax persuasion (Led by Stacey Smith?)
Group 4: Effect of reproductive hormones on mathematical models of physiology (Led by Alys Clark)

Program Structure:

 
Participant List:
Age Zanca (University of Melbourne)
Alys Clark (Auckland Bioengineering Instituye)
Robyn Araujo (University of Melbourne)
Gervy Marie Angeles (University of the Philippines Diliman)
Hwayeon Ryu (Elon University)
Jennifer Flegg (University of Melbourne)
Catherine Penington (Macquarie University)
Adelle Coster (University of New South Wales)
Seemadri Subhadarshini (Indian Institute of Science)
Adrianne Jenner (Queensland University of Technology)
Mary Myerscough (University of Sydney)
Alphonsa George (Indian Institute of Technology Palakkad)
Georgia Weatherley (Queensland University of Technology)
Neda Khodabakhsh Joniani (University of Sydney)
Celia Dowling (University of Melbourne)
Claire Miller (Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland)
Victoria Mendoza (University of the Philippines Diliman)
Haripriya Sridharan (University of Melbourne)
Eva Stadler (Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney)
Pantea Pooladvand (University of Sydney)
Stacey Smith? (University of Ottawa)
Ellen Tanaka Kahiya (Charles University)
Raquel Vazquez  (University of Zaragoza)
Jess Crawshaw (Queensland University of Technology)
Rebecca Crossley (University of Oxford)
Manuela Mendiolar (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation)
Lata Paea (Auckland Bioengineering Insitute, University of Auckland)

Registration:

• Registration is now closed.
• Arrival date: 27 April 2026
• Departure date: 8 May 2026

ASSOCIATED EVENTS
MATRIX Wine and Cheese Afternoon 29 April 2026
MATRIX provides a pre-dinner wine and cheese afternoon. Produce is locally-sourced to showcase delicacies from the region.