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Events

• Apr

  23

  Appl Math: Ned Wingreen on "Collective dynamics in B cell affinity maturation"

  McCormick-Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics (ESAM)

  11:15 AM M416, Technological Institute

  EVENT DETAILS

  Title: Collective dynamics in B cell affinity maturation

  Speaker: Ned Wingreen, Princeton University

  Abstract: In the humoral immune response, B cells that produce high-affinity antibodies are generated through a Darwinian evolutionary process called affinity maturation. Affinity maturation, which takes place in germinal centers (GC), is driven by cycles of selection (mediated by T cells), division, and hypermutation of B cells. Recently, it was found that the T cells themselves also exhibit dynamic behavior throughout the course of the GC reaction, undergoing affinity-dependent proliferation. A model suggests that this reciprocal stimulation enforces a robust “homeostatic” regulation of the relative number of B cells and T cells in the GC, leading to a constant ratio of GC lymphocytes. But the model also points to a problem: the high mutation rate of GC B cells can lead to “backsliding” of affinity. The proposed solution – a fitness-dependent mutation rate – has been experimentally verified, and has implications beyond B cell affinity maturation.

  Zoom: https://northwestern.zoom.us/j/98590741221

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  TIME Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

  LOCATION M416, Technological Institute    map it

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  CONTACT Noor Kaur    noor.kaur@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick-Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics (ESAM)

• Apr

  30

  Appl Math: Kevin Lin on "A coarse-grained model of the primary visual cortex"

  McCormick-Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics (ESAM)

  11:15 AM M416, Technological Institute

  EVENT DETAILS

  Title: A coarse-grained model of the primary visual cortex

  Speaker: Kevin K. Lin, University of Arizona

  Abstract: Biologically realistic models of cortical circuits are challenging to build and simulate due to the large numbers of neurons, their complex connectivity and interactions, and the many unknown parameters. Reduced, or coarse-grained, models are more tractable, but when carried too far reduced models may become hard to interpret. This talk concerns a coarse-graining strategy inspired by ideas from nonequilibrium statistical mechanics that aims to balance biological realism and computational efficiency. I will show
  that our strategy, when applied to the primate primary visual cortex, can faithfully reproduce the response of cortical circuits to external stimuli.

  Zoom: TBA

  -----

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  TIME Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

  LOCATION M416, Technological Institute    map it

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Noor Kaur    noor.kaur@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick-Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics (ESAM)

• May

  7

  Appl Math: Jon Rubin on "Title TBA"

  McCormick-Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics (ESAM)

  11:15 AM M416, Technological Institute

  EVENT DETAILS

  Title: TBA

  Speaker: Jon Rubin, University of Pittsburgh

  Abstract: TBA

  Zoom: TBA

  -----

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  TIME Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

  LOCATION M416, Technological Institute    map it

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Noor Kaur    noor.kaur@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick-Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics (ESAM)

• May

  13

  Appl Math: Melanie Mitchell on "Title TBA" - Reiss Lecture

  McCormick-Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics (ESAM)

  4:00 PM L211, Technological Institute

  EVENT DETAILS

  Title: Title TBA - Reiss Lecture

  Speaker: Melanie Mitchell, Santa Fe Institute

  Abstract: TBA

  Zoom: TBA

  -----

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  TIME Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

  LOCATION L211, Technological Institute    map it

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  CONTACT Anne Umbanhowar    anne.umbanhowar@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick-Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics (ESAM)

• May

  14

  Appl Math: Melanie Mitchell on "Title TBA" - Reiss Lecture

  McCormick-Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics (ESAM)

  11:15 AM

  EVENT DETAILS

  Title: Title TBA - Reiss Lecture

  Speaker: Melanie Mitchell, Santa Fe Institute

  Abstract: TBA

  Zoom: TBA

  -----

  To subscribe to the Applied Mathematics Colloquia List send a message to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.IT.NORTHWESTERN.EDU with the command:

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  TIME Thursday, May 14, 2026 at 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Anne Umbanhowar    anne.umbanhowar@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick-Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics (ESAM)

• May

  21

  Appl Math: Robert Hunt on "Title TBA"

  McCormick-Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics (ESAM)

  11:15 AM M416, Technological Institute

  EVENT DETAILS

  Title: TBA

  Speaker: Robert Hunt, University of Chicago

  Abstract: TBA

  Zoom: TBA

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  TIME Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

  LOCATION M416, Technological Institute    map it

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  CONTACT Noor Kaur    noor.kaur@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick-Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics (ESAM)

• May

  28

  Appl Math: Dashun Wang on "Title TBA"

  McCormick-Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics (ESAM)

  11:15 AM M416, Technological Institute

  EVENT DETAILS

  Title: TBA

  Speaker: Dashun Wang, Northwestern University

  Abstract: TBA

  Zoom: TBA

  -----

  To subscribe to the Applied Mathematics Colloquia List send a message to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.IT.NORTHWESTERN.EDU with the command:

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  TIME Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

  LOCATION M416, Technological Institute    map it

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Noor Kaur    noor.kaur@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick-Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics (ESAM)

• Jun

  4

  Appl Math: Neil Ribe on "Title TBA"

  McCormick-Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics (ESAM)

  11:15 AM M416, Technological Institute

  EVENT DETAILS

  Title: TBA

  Speaker: Neil Ribe, Université Paris-Saclay

  Abstract: TBA

  Zoom: TBA

  -----

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  TIME Thursday, June 4, 2026 at 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

  LOCATION M416, Technological Institute    map it

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Noor Kaur    noor.kaur@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick-Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics (ESAM)