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A venue to connect researchers interested in Physics of Life within South America
Who we are
Who we are
We are a growing South American network of scientists united by a shared passion for advancing physics of life — where physics meets life’s complexity. Born from a collaborative workshop at ICTP-SAIFR in 2025, our community strives to span researchers, students, and institutions, working together to bridge disciplines and borders.
Chair: Silvina Ponce Dawson (UBA)
Vice-Chair: Pablo de Castro (USP/ICTP-SAIFR)
Assistant Chair: Rafael Menezes (ICTP-SAIFR/Unesp)
Ecology and Evolution Subnetwork
Chair: Gabriel Mindlin (UBA)
Vice-Chair: Marcus Aguiar (Unicamp)
Cells and Molecules
Chair: Vitor Leite (Unesp)
Vice-Chair: Hernan Grecco (UBA)
Neuroscience
Chair: Antonio Carlos Roque (USP)
Vice-Chair: Enzo Tagliazucchi (UBA)
News
News
Cells&Molecules Subnetwork Seminar
Cells&Molecules Subnetwork Seminar
April 24 at 10:00 AM in Brazil (UTC-3)
April 24 at 10:00 AM in Brazil (UTC-3)
Ignacio Bordeu
Ignacio Bordeu
University of Chile (UC), Chile
University of Chile (UC), Chile
Title: From cellular interaction to large-scale tissue patterning
Title: From cellular interaction to large-scale tissue patterning
Abstract: Understanding how local cellular interactions give rise to robust, large-scale patterns remains a central challenge at the interface of physics and biology. In this talk, I will discuss recent efforts to identify physical principles underlying tissue patterning, beginning with experiments and modelling of cell sorting, where mixtures of motile cells can spontaneously segregate through changes in their dynamical properties. I will show that variations in persistence and directional motion of individual cells can drive efficient large-scale segregation, extending beyond traditional contact-based strategies. This framework suggests new routes for spatial organization in dense cellular systems and may have implications for developmental processes and organogenesis. I will conclude with an overview of related work in our Active Matter group at the University of Chile, spanning theoretical studies of active systems and experiments on bacterial collectives and tissue mechanics.
Zoom meeting number: 871 1205 0573
Zoom password: polsan
Physics of Life South American Network
Physics of Life South American Network
Group of researchers that participated in the School and Workshop on the Physics of Life at ICTP-SAIFR, São Paulo, Brazil, in March, 2025 — A kickoff event for the Physics of Life South American Network, POLSAN.
Key Initiatives
Key Initiatives
Hybrid Seminars
Regular talks featuring experts on topics of Physics of Life. The organization of the seminars rotate among the subnetworks.
Some hybrid seminars can be attended in person at designated hubs — join locally to watch live, whether the speaker is on-site or streaming remotely. You are always welcome to join the seminars remotely as well!
Fostering Collaborations
The network is a great way to connect with peers that have similar interests and complementary skills!
Schools & Workshops
We are always interested in organizing schools and workshops on the different topics of Physics of Life.
We encourage the submission of proposals to ICTP-SAIFR to organize schools and workshops in the different areas of physics of life. For 2027 proposals, the application deadline is Jan. 15th 2026. Read here for more information.
Mobility Grants & Funding
We strive to make available information on mobility grants and funding for researchers to collaborate across institutions.
We also encourage members to write joint grants, including the possibility of constructing partnerships with different funding agencies across borders.
Our Thematic Subnetworks
Our Thematic Subnetworks
Covering biodiversity, animal movement
Chair: Gabriel Mindlin (UBA)
Vice-Chair: Marcus Aguiar (Unicamp)
Covering biomolecular structure, bioinformatics, omics, systems biology, cell signaling
Chair: Vitor Leite (Unesp)
Vice-Chair: Hernan Grecco (UBA)
Covering physics-based approaches to neuroscience
Chair: Antonio Carlos Roque (USP)
Vice-Chair: Enzo Tagliazucchi (UBA)
How to join
How to join
You can join the network by subscribing to our mailing lists.
Just fill out the form and select which mailing lists you want to subscribe to. After submitting the form, the links to join the mailing lists will be shown. The mailing lists will be used responsibly, primarily to keep you informed about upcoming events and opportunities.
If you would like to email all the members of a mailing list, please send your message directly to the corresponding group email address (visible after you join). Only subscribed members will be able to send emails. Your message will then be circulated to all the members of the list only after approval by the moderators.
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