Stochastic Reaction Networks Summer School
Organized in the framework of the PRIN ConStRAINeD Research Project
June 9–13, 2025 – Torgnon
This event is intended for post-docs, PhD or master students, studying mathematics, biology, computer science, engineering, physics and more. Some background knowledge in probability theory is required.
Topics
Stochastic Reaction Networks (SRNs) are mathematical models typically used in system biology, epidemiology, population dynamics, telecommunications, chemistry. In such models, individuals are identical units (e.g. molecules), classified into different groups (e.g. chemical species) and interact through the so-called reactions. The number of available individuals of different groups changes with the occurrence of a reaction. Depending on the applications, reactions could be biochemical transformations (such as protein binding and gene regulation), interactions between animals (such as one predator eating a prey), infection spreading (a susceptible individual can become infected upon contact with another infected individual), etc.
During the school, a formal and complete introduction to SRNs will be given. Mathematical models of SRN are described in terms of continuous time Markov processes with discrete values. We will show how these processes can be expressed as solutions of stochastic differential equations (SDE) with respect to a family of Poisson point processes. Classical results on Poisson processes will be recalled. Several examples of SRNs will be discussed, such as Michaelis-Menten systems. As it will be seen the SDE formulation enables to investigate scaling results when the number of initial chemical species is large. In this context, examples of the convergence of the state of the scaled Markov process to the solution of an ordinary differential equation will be presented. Moreover, significant results in the setting of approximations will be discussed.
We will also discuss statistical learning and parameter inference of SRNs. We will start with the theoretical preliminaries of classical likelihood-based inference, and slowly build up to modern methodologies such as the dynamical survival analysis, and likelihood-free approaches (e.g., approximate Bayesian computation). To facilitate practical use, we will consider applications in areas such as infectious disease epidemiology, and systems biology.
Lecturers
- Philippe Robert, INRIA
- Wasiur R. KhudaBukhsh, University of Nottingham
Program
| time | June 8 | June 9 | June 10 | June 11 | June 12 | June 13 | June 14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8:30 – 10:30 | participants arrival in Turin | Lecture | Lecture | Lecture | Lecture | Lecture | Shuttle Torgnon > Politecnico at 10:00 |
| 10:30 – 11:00 | Coffee Break | Coffee Break | Coffee Break | Coffee Break | Coffee Break | ||
| 11:00 – 13:00 | Lecture | Lecture | Lecture | Lecture | Lecture | ||
| 13:00 – 14:30 | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | ||
| 14:30 – 17:00 | Group activities | Group activities | Social Event | Group activities | Group activities | ||
| 17:00 – 19:45 | Shuttle Politecnico > Torgnon at 17:00 | Social spare time | Social spare time | Social spare time | Social spare time | ||
| 19:45 – 21:00 | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner |
Venue
The school will take place at the Hotel Panoramique Torgnon. Torgnon is a town in the Aosta Valley region of north-western Italy. Facing onto the Valley of the Matterhorn, it offers a unique view onto the most striking mountains of the entire Alpine region. Sitting on the right side of the Valley, Torgnon is sunny for most of the day, earning it the name of “pays du soleil” (sun-kissed town). The town is famous for downhill slopes of variable difficulty, cross-country paths which are among the most panoramic of the Aosta Valley, and trekking routes for all kinds of excursions. If you like hiking (or running), bring appropriate shoes!
We will organize a shuttle from Politecnico di Torino to the Venue of the school, so to use this (highly recommended) possibility, please plan to be in Turin by June 8 at 17.
To get to Politecnico di Torino (map):
- From Milano Malpensa (MXP) airport: there is a shuttle service, see here. The closest station to Politecnico is “Torino Autostazione-C.so Bolzano”, which is in front of the Torino Porta Susa train station.
- From Torino Caselle (TRN) airport: there is both a shuttle service (check here) and a train service (check here), both are quite frequent and get to the Torino Porta Susa train station.
- From Porta Susa (PS) train and bus station: you can take a walk (map) or get tram n. 10.
- From Porta Nuova (PN) train and bus station: you can take a walk (map) or get bus n. 33, 58 or 58/.
Registration
There was no registration fee. Registration was open until April 11, 2025.
The registration did not grant accommodation at the school location. Participants booked their stays autonomously. Discounted rates were available at Hotel Panoramique Torgnon for participants of the event (starting from 70 euros/night in a shared two-people room, full board arrangement excluding beverages), including a social dinner in a typical “rifugio”.
The Summer School was followed by the Stochastic Reaction Networks Workshop at Politecnico di Torino (June 16–18, 2025).