BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:icalendar-ruby CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Europe/Vienna BEGIN:DAYLIGHT DTSTART:20260329T030000 TZOFFSETFROM:+0100 TZOFFSETTO:+0200 RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;BYDAY=-1SU;BYMONTH=3 TZNAME:CEST END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD DTSTART:20261025T020000 TZOFFSETFROM:+0200 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;BYDAY=-1SU;BYMONTH=10 TZNAME:CET END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260615T142935Z UID:1781600400@ist.ac.at DTSTART:20260616T110000 DTEND:20260616T120000 DESCRIPTION:Speaker: Michael Buchhold\nhosted by Maksym Serbyn\nAbstract: A bstract: Understanding and actively shaping quantum entanglement in many- body systems is a key challenge for modern quantum technologies. Recently\ , monitored quantum dynamics — quantum dynamics with mid-circuit measu rements — has emerged as a powerful tool for harnessing entanglement in NISQ devices and simulating non-equilibrium dynamics in condensed matter s ystems. In this talk\, I will discuss our recent understanding of entangle ment in monitored quantum dynamics from the viewpoint of emergent many-bod y phases and universality. Monitored dynamics generate wave functions with robust entanglement structures\, which depend only on global properties s uch as symmetry and dimensionality\, thereby defining entanglement phases of monitored quantum matter. We anticipate a symmetry classification of mo nitored matter akin to equilibrium quantum matter in Hamiltonian systems\, which I will introduce using exemplary systems in one and two dimensions. I will also highlight our recent analytical and numerical advances and ho w they can be applied to engineer entanglement\, for instance\, in adaptiv e quantum circuits and driven quantum materials. -- Michael BuchholdProf essor of Theoretical Physics\,Department of Theoretical Physics\, Univers ität Innsbruck\, AustriaTel.: +43 512 507 52210Email: michael.buchhold@ui bk.ac.at (mailto:michael.buchhold@uibk.ac.at)Homepage: https://www.uibk.ac .at/en/th-physik/nonequilibrium-quantum-matter/ LOCATION:Office Building West/Ground Floor/Heinzel Seminar Room\, ISTA ORGANIZER:Stephanie.Dolot@ist.ac.at SUMMARY:Michael Buchhold: Monitored quantum matter URL:https://talks-calendar.ista.ac.at/events/6211 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260615T142935Z UID:1781607600@ist.ac.at DTSTART:20260616T130000 DTEND:20260616T140000 DESCRIPTION:Speaker: Konstantin Kueffner\nhosted by Krzysztof Pietrzak\nAbs tract: As automated decision-makers have become ubiquitous in many domains of life\, their decisions have become increasingly consequential. Recent years have shown that such systems can exhibit discriminatory behaviour ag ainst individuals and social groups alike\, thereby amplifying existing bi ases and entrenching socio-economic disparities over time. Algorithmic fai rness addresses this problem by developing methods to quantify and mitigat e unfair behaviour. However\, much of the existing literature studies fair ness in a static pre-deployment setting and\, therefore\, neglects that au tomated decision-makers are often deployed in dynamic environments\, where their behaviour and the populations they affect may change over time.This thesis addresses this gap through the lens of runtime verification. Inste ad of treating fairness as a property of a classifier together with a fixe d input distribution\, it reframes fairness as a property of the interacti on trace between the decision-maker and its deployment environment. To eva luate such sequential fairness properties\, the thesis develops runtime mo nitors that observe the evolving interaction between the system and the en vironment and issue verdicts after each new observation. Because\, these m onitors are designed to detect unfair behaviour during deployment\, they c omplement fair training\, auditing\, verification\, and enforcement by pr oviding an additional layer of mathematically rigorous fairness assurance. In summary\, the thesis develops quantitative\, trace-based analogues of c lassical group and individual fairness measures and constructs monitors fo r them. This includes monitors for long-run group fairness over Markovian traces\, for the time-varying welfare of a changing population in a dynami cal system\, and for the individual fairness of an arbitrary system genera ting a trace of inputs and outputs. To achieve this\, the monitors combine ideas from runtime verification\, sequential statistics\, and nearest-nei ghbour search. In the group-fairness settings\, monitoring is primarily a sequential statistical estimation problem: the monitor must construct stat istically sound interval estimates of fairness values from dependent and p artially observed interactions. In the individual-fairness setting\, the m ain challenge is computational efficiency: the monitor must detect individ ual fairness violations by efficiently comparing the current decision with all previously observed decisions. LOCATION:Central Bldg / O1 / Mondi 3 (I01.O1.010) and Zoom\, ISTA ORGANIZER: SUMMARY:Konstantin Kueffner: Thesis Defense: Monitoring Algorithmic Fairnes s in Sequential Decision Making URL:https://talks-calendar.ista.ac.at/events/6480 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260615T142935Z UID:6a1e9cbf6eea4640038876@ist.ac.at DTSTART:20260616T161500 DTEND:20260616T171500 DESCRIPTION:Speaker: Andrew Campbell\nhosted by Laszlo Erdös\nAbstract: Cl assical theorems of Laguerre\, Plya\, Hermite\, and Schur (among others) c haracterized certain differential operators\, which when applied to a univ ariate polynomial preserve the property of all the roots remaining in a sp ecified domain\, for example the real line. These results have been extend ed to general linear operators on multivariate polynomials\, with the clas sification problem completely resolved for many important domains. We will discuss some of the motivations behind these Plya-Schur problems and thei r relationship to Voiculescu's free probability. Specifically\, we will se e that recent works in finite free probability on root distributions under the backwards heat flow and repeated differentiation can be generalized t o any free infinitely divisible law. At the end of the talk we will discus s the natural random matrix ensembles associated with these root preservin g operators. Our approach is motivated by these ensembles and the resolven t method in random matrix theory\, as opposed to combinatorial approaches common in finite free probability. Based on joint work with Jonas Jalowy ( https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.31356). LOCATION:Office Bldg West / Ground floor / Heinzel Seminar Room (I21.EG.101 )\, ISTA ORGANIZER:boosthui@ist.ac.at SUMMARY:Andrew Campbell: Pólya-Schur problems\, free probability\, and rel ated random matrix models URL:https://talks-calendar.ista.ac.at/events/6493 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260615T142935Z UID:1781703000@ist.ac.at DTSTART:20260617T153000 DTEND:20260617T163000 DESCRIPTION:Speaker: Yunzhe Li\nhosted by Maksym Serbyn\nAbstract: We study spectral rigidity and nonrigidity phenomena in dynamical systems. The cen tral question is whether a dynamical system can be determined\, up to a na tural conjugacy\, by its spectrum.The first part of the talk focuses on st andard maps from the viewpoint of action spectra. We construct nontrivial deformations of the standard map that preserve the symplectic actions of i nfinitely many periodic orbits accumulating onto an invariant curve. This result can be viewed as a symplectic twist-map analogue of length-spectral nonrigidity phenomena for Riemannian manifolds and convex billiards\, mot ivating the problem of constructing analogous “partially length-isospect ral” deformations of strictly convex billiard tables. The proof combines a resonant normal form construction with Picard iteration schemes to prod uce a sequence of periodic orbits accumulating on an invariant curve with a Liouville rotation number. The second part of the talk briefly explores rigidity questions for Liouville metrics on the two-dimensional torus. A long-standing folklore conjecture asserts that Liouville metrics are the o nly integrable metrics on the torus. We give a length-spectral rigidity re sult for the class of trigonometric conformal deformations of Liouville me trics by exploiting the dynamical properties of rational tori\, which are analogues of resonant convex caustics in billiards. We also establish a co mplementary classification result showing that marked-length-isospectral L iouville metrics are characterized by rearrangements of the one-dimensiona l functions appearing in their conformal factors\, generalizing a theorem of Abbondandolo and Mazzucchelli. In particular\, this result yields many nonrigidity examples within the class of Liouville metrics. LOCATION:Office Bldg West / Ground floor / Heinzel Seminar Room (I21.EG.101 ) and Zoom\, ISTA ORGANIZER: SUMMARY:Yunzhe Li: Thesis Defense: Spectral Rigidity and Nonrigidity of Dyn amical Systems URL:https://talks-calendar.ista.ac.at/events/6506 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260615T142935Z UID:68776f011d8c3722554400@ist.ac.at DTSTART:20260618T110000 DTEND:20260618T120000 DESCRIPTION:Speaker: Cecilia Herrero\nhosted by Baptiste Coquinot (RG Lemes hko)\nAbstract: Nanofluidics studies the behavior of fluids confined at th e nanometer scale\, where interfaces dominate transport and give rise to p henomena absent at larger scales. Beyond its fundamental interest\, this f ield offers promising perspectives for applications such as water desalina tion and energy harvesting.In this seminar\, I will discuss how nanoscale confinement modifies fluid transport through the emergence of characterist ic interfacial length scales\, with a particular focus on the so-called sl ip length\, related to liquidsolid friction. I will show how the nature of the solid surface (such as roughness or mechanical and electronic fluctua tions) can strongly affect transport properties. Finally\, I will present recent insights into the impact of charge fluctuations at interfaces on li quidsolid friction and transport\, and how these effects can be investigat ed using theory and molecular dynamics simulations opening the path to exp eriments. These phenomena open new possibilities for coupling hydrodynamic and electrostatic effects\, with potential applications to the conversion of osmotic energy into electrical power. LOCATION:Office Bldg West / Ground floor / Heinzel Seminar Room (I21.EG.101 )\, ISTA ORGANIZER:michaela.pucher@ist.ac.at SUMMARY:Cecilia Herrero: Nanofluidics and the power of interfaces: new pers pectives for energy conversion URL:https://talks-calendar.ista.ac.at/events/6472 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260615T142935Z UID:6a06d37191b9c076587052@ist.ac.at DTSTART:20260618T113000 DTEND:20260618T123000 DESCRIPTION:Speaker: Daniel Rutschmann\nAbstract: Comparison based sorting is a well understood problem. There are many algorithms that sort n items in O(n log n) comparisons\, and this is tight since log(n!) (n log n). Bu t what if you already know that some elements are smaller than others? Can you then sort in fewer than (n log n) comparisons?We can encode this prio r information as a directed acyclic graph G that contains a vertex for eve ry item\, and an edge x y if we already know that x < y. If there are e(G ) sorted orders (permutations) compatible with G\, then any algorithm must perform (log e(G)) comparisons. The problem of Sorting from Partial Infor mation is to match this bound\, that is\, to design an efficient algorithm that\, given the graph G\, sorts the items in O(log e(G)) comparisons.Suc h an algorithm is optimal in a very strong sense: Not only is it optimal f or every input size n\, but it is optimal for every graph G\; we call such an algorithm universally optimal. There are many fundamental problems tha t have textbook algorithms with a running time of (n log n). For these pro blems\, we ask: Can we design algorithms that run in o(n log n) time on su bsets of inputs characterized by a graph G? Can we achieve universal optim ality? This concept applies not only to graph algorithms such as Dijkstra' s or Prim's\, but also to a wide range of fundamental problems\, including set intersection and convex hulls. LOCATION:Office Bldg West / Ground floor / Foyer seminar room (I21.EG.128)\ , ISTA ORGANIZER:joanders@ist.ac.at SUMMARY:Daniel Rutschmann: TCS Seminar - From Sorting under Partial Informa tion to Universal Optimality URL:https://talks-calendar.ista.ac.at/events/6509 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260615T142935Z UID:665dbdca9d01d401146589@ist.ac.at DTSTART:20260618T131500 DTEND:20260618T150000 DESCRIPTION:Speaker: Jianrong Li\nhosted by Tamas Hausel\nAbstract: Frenkel and Reshetikhin introduced q-characters for finite-dimensional representa tions of quantum affine algebras\, providing a fundamental tool in their r epresentation theory. Together with Tomasz Przezdziecki\, we defined bound ary q-characters for finite dimensional representations of quantum affine symmetric pairs of split and quasi-split types. In this talk\, I will pres ent a new joint work Tomasz Przezdziecki on evaluation modules for split q uantum affine symmetric pairs. By computing the action of generators in Lu and Wangs Drinfeld-type presentation on GelfandTsetlin bases\, we determi ne the spectrum of a large commutative subalgebra arising from this presen tation. This leads to an explicit formula for boundary analogues of q-char acters\, which we interpret combinatorially in terms of semistandard Young tableaux. Our results show that boundary q-characters share familiar feat ures with ordinary q-characters\, while also exhibiting new phenomena\, in cluding an additional symmetry. LOCATION:Office Bldg West / Ground floor / Heinzel Seminar Room (I21.EG.101 )\, ISTA ORGANIZER:boosthui@ist.ac.at SUMMARY:Jianrong Li: Boundary q-characters of finite-dimensional representa tions of quantum affine symmetric pairs URL:https://talks-calendar.ista.ac.at/events/6284 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260615T142935Z UID:1781787600@ist.ac.at DTSTART:20260618T150000 DTEND:20260618T193000 DESCRIPTION:Abstract: We are pleased to invite you to join us at the 2026 G raduation Ceremony.This memorable event will take place on Thursday\, June 18\, 2026\, at 3:00 pmin the Moonstone Building (Seminar Center on the Gr ound floor).Please note that registration is required to attend the ceremo ny and reception.- Register here – (https://pretix.eu/ista-events/gradua tion26/)We kindly ask you to register by June 12. Kind regards\,Graduate School Office | Events Office LOCATION:Moonstone Seminar Center\, ISTA ORGANIZER:events@ista.ac.at SUMMARY:Graduation Ceremony 2026 URL:https://talks-calendar.ista.ac.at/events/6273 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260615T142935Z UID:1782120600@ist.ac.at DTSTART:20260622T113000 DTEND:20260622T123000 DESCRIPTION:Speaker: Jiri Friml & Leonid Sazanov\nhosted by Carl-Philipp He isenberg LOCATION:Raifeisen Lecture Hall\, ISTA ORGANIZER:diana.zubcevic@ista.ac.at SUMMARY:Jiri Friml & Leonid Sazanov: SeniorISTA | Jiri Friml & Leonid Sazan ov URL:https://talks-calendar.ista.ac.at/events/6481 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260615T142935Z UID:1782201600@ist.ac.at DTSTART:20260623T100000 DTEND:20260623T110000 DESCRIPTION:Speaker: Lea Becker\nhosted by Robert Seiringer\nAbstract: Char acterizing protein dynamics at the atomic level is essential for our under standing of biological mechanisms. Whether it is to facilitate metabolite transport\, catalyze reactions\, transmit signals\, or regulate metabolism – proteins are constantly in motion and sample multiple conformational states to fulfill their function. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectro scopy is particularly well suited to elucidate the dynamics of biomolecule s on their complex free-energy landscape. In particular\, solid-state magi c-angle spinning (MAS) NMR enables the study of large molecular assemblies \, protein crystals\, or insoluble proteins at atomic resolution without a n inherent molecular size limitation. MAS NMR experiments to probe protein dynamics are extremely versatile and sensitive to motional timescales fro m picoseconds to seconds. Over the past decades\, technological advances\, developments in experimental design\, and new isotope-labeling approaches have further expanded the possibilities of this technique and significant ly improved the accuracy of the determined motional parameters.Functionall y important sites of proteins often contain aromatic residues. Their side- chain motions have therefore long served as valuable indicators of mechani stically relevant dynamics in NMR studies. In this thesis\, site-specifica lly labeled aromatic residues act as sensitive reporters for MAS NMR studi es of protein dynamics. The first part addresses how different environment s impact side-chain motion by probing ring flips of phenylalanines and tyr osines in crystalline proteins and amyloid fibrils. It provides important insights for the analysis of dynamics obtained in non-native protein envir onments and emphasizes the complex factors that determine the timescale of internal dynamics. In the second part\, the focus shifts towards methodol ogical questions regarding the investigation of protein dynamics by 19F MA S NMR. The fluorine nucleus exhibits promising characteristics for NMR stu dies but also presents significant challenges\, which is why the full meth odological potential of 19F MAS NMR has not been fully realized yet. This work demonstrates that paramagnetic doping can considerably reduce the mea surement time and improve the sensitivity of fluorinated samples. Finally\ , 19F MAS NMR is evaluated as a tool for studying protein side-chain dynam ics on the example of tryptophans. The results illustrate the challenges i n analyzing such experiments and lay the foundation for further developmen t of 19F MAS NMR relaxation studies.Taken together\, this thesis highlight s the potential of combining specific isotope labeling\, MAS NMR\, and com plementary methods such as crystallography and computational simulations t o elucidate internal protein dynamics. The further development of such int egrative approaches will be crucial to improving our understanding of comp lex mechanisms and protein function. LOCATION:Central Bldg / O1 / Mondi 2a (I01.O1.008)\, ISTA ORGANIZER: SUMMARY:Lea Becker: Thesis Defense: Exploring protein dynamics using specif ic labeling approaches for solid-state MAS NMR URL:https://talks-calendar.ista.ac.at/events/6447 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260615T142935Z UID:6a1e9cbf6f336379210386@ist.ac.at DTSTART:20260623T161500 DTEND:20260623T171500 DESCRIPTION:Speaker: Filippo Quattrocchi\nhosted by Jan Maas\nAbstract: Man y evolutionary PDEs\, both linear and nonlinear (e.g.\, the heat and porou s medium equations)\, can be seen as gradient flows in the Wasserstein met ric space of probability measures. This classical result provides general tools for existence\, numerical approximation\, uniqueness\, and convergen ce estimates under weak assumptions. In this talk\, we extend this perspec tive to dynamics driven by an interplay of conservative and dissipative ef fects.Our main result is the interpretation of the nonlinear kinetic Fokke r-Planck equation as a gradient flow of the free energy in a suitable spac e of measures. The geometry of this space is physically motivated\, induce d by discrepancies that measure the minimal force needed to steer one conf iguration into another. As a consequence\, we obtain approximations of sol utions via an implicit Euler scheme.This talk is based on arXiv:2502.15665 \, in collaboration with G. Brigati (ISTA) and J. Maas (ISTA)\, and ongoin g work with G. Brigati (ISTA)\, G. Carlier (CEREMADE\, Paris Dauphine-PSL) \, and J. Dolbeault (CEREMADE\, Paris Dauphine-PSL). LOCATION:Office Bldg West / Ground floor / Heinzel Seminar Room (I21.EG.101 )\, ISTA ORGANIZER:boosthui@ist.ac.at SUMMARY:Filippo Quattrocchi: Nonlinear kinetic equations as gradient flows URL:https://talks-calendar.ista.ac.at/events/6520 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260615T142935Z UID:1782720000@ist.ac.at DTSTART:20260629T100000 DTEND:20260629T110000 DESCRIPTION:Speaker: Jakub Löwit\nhosted by Krishnendu Chatterjee\nAbstrac t: We develop and employ techniques from equivariant algebraic K-theory an d related invariants in the context of geometric representation theory\, i n both arithmetic and topological situations. We showcase the use of such techniques on the affine Grassmannian Gr\, a space of fundamental interest in the geometric Langlands program. LOCATION:Office Bldg West / Ground floor / Heinzel Seminar Room (I21.EG.101 ) and Zoom\, ISTA ORGANIZER: SUMMARY:Jakub Löwit: Thesis Defense: Equivariant K-theory of affine Grassm annians in representation theory and arithmetic URL:https://talks-calendar.ista.ac.at/events/6500 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260615T142935Z UID:1782725400@ist.ac.at DTSTART:20260629T113000 DTEND:20260629T123000 DESCRIPTION:Speaker: Julia Reisenbauer & Charles Roques-Carmes\nhosted by M ikhail Lemeshko LOCATION:ISTA | Central Building | Raiffeisen Lecture Hall\, ISTA ORGANIZER:diana.zubcevic@ista.ac.at SUMMARY:Julia Reisenbauer & Charles Roques-Carmes: Inaugural Lecture | Juli a Reisenbauer & Charles Roques-Carmes URL:https://talks-calendar.ista.ac.at/events/6385 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260615T142935Z UID:6a228b5ab4e49352705797@ist.ac.at DTSTART:20260630T161500 DTEND:20260630T171500 DESCRIPTION:Speaker: Reuben Drogin\nhosted by Laszlo Erdös\nAbstract: The FurstenbergKesten theorem asserts that the singular values of a product of IID random matrices grow or decay exponentially at deterministic rates\, called Lyapunov exponents. Classical results give qualitative criteria ens uring that these exponents are distinct and or positive\, but many applica tions\, e.g. the theory of random band matrices\, require quantitative est imates. We discuss such estimates and their connections to localization fo r random band matrices. In particular\, we show the Lyapunov exponents ass ociated with a class of 2W x 2W transfer matrices are separated at scale 1 /W\, and the top Lyapunov exponent converges to a deterministic limit as W tends to infinity. LOCATION:Office Bldg West / Ground floor / Heinzel Seminar Room (I21.EG.101 )\, ISTA ORGANIZER:boosthui@ist.ac.at SUMMARY:Reuben Drogin: Singular Values of Random Matrix Products and Random Band Matrices URL:https://talks-calendar.ista.ac.at/events/6501 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260615T142935Z UID:6a1e9cbf6f7a1927120699@ist.ac.at DTSTART:20260630T171500 DTEND:20260630T181500 DESCRIPTION:Speaker: Francesco Pedrotti\nhosted by Jan Maas\nAbstract: The cutoff phenomenon is a sharp transition in the convergence of high-dimensi onal Markov chains to equilibrium: the total variation distance remains cl ose to 1 for a long time and then rapidly decreases to almost 0 over a muc h shorter time window.It was initially discovered in the context of card s huffling by Diaconis and Shahshahani\, and since then observed in a variet y of different models. In spite of its ubiquity\, it is still largely unex plained\, and most proofs are model-specific.In this talk\, we discuss a h igh-level approach to establishing cutoff based on transport inequalities\ , and we illustrate it for a popular algorithm known as the Proximal Sampl er.Based on joint work with Justin Salez. LOCATION:Office Bldg West / Ground floor / Heinzel Seminar Room (I21.EG.101 )\, ISTA ORGANIZER:boosthui@ist.ac.at SUMMARY:Francesco Pedrotti: A transport approach to the cutoff phenomenon URL:https://talks-calendar.ista.ac.at/events/6502 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260615T142935Z UID:1782918000@ist.ac.at DTSTART:20260701T170000 DTEND:20260701T180000 DESCRIPTION:Speaker: Simone Bombari\nhosted by Matthew Kwan\nAbstract: Arti ficial intelligence and machine learning have undergone an unprecedented e volution in the past decade\, motivating a research effort toward a theory able to capture the qualitative behavior of large-scale neural systems. A central puzzle has been the clear benefit of scaling architecture size an d overfitting the training set in supervised learning tasks. This evidence \, in apparent contradiction with classical statistical learning theory\, pushed researchers to develop a new theory capturing the interplay between the algorithmic and architectural bias of training and the specific targe t function\, differently from previous methods rooted in uniform stability .This approach has enabled a grounded understanding of novel learning regi mes\, typically through formal limits where the number of training samples $n$\, data dimensions $d$\, and model parameters $p$ grow to infinity at different rates.In this thesis\, we follow this approach\, focusing on the trustworthiness of high-dimensional models: properties that are difficult to control during training or deployment and often emerge under unpredict able or adversarial conditions. In such settings\, it is crucial to formal ly ensure a priori the reliability of machine learning systems.First\, we study data memorization\, both as label fitting and as the storage of priv ate information about training samples in trained parameters. We prove tha t $p = \\Omega(n)$ parameters are sufficient for a deep neural network to memorize a generic set of labels\, and for a model to memorize spurious fe atures across training data. We then give evidence that $p = \\Omega(dn)$ parameters are instead necessary for an adversary to reconstruct the full training set from the trained parameters.Second\, we study robustness\, bo th to adversarial perturbations and to distribution shift. We first prove that $p = \\Omega(dn)$ parameters can be sufficient for a class of neural networks to overfit the training data while guaranteeing robustness to adv ersarial perturbations. Then\, we focus on spurious correlations learning in high-dimensional regression\, studying the effect of the ridge regulari zation parameter in the proportional regime $n = \\Theta(d)$\, and connect ing it via an equivalence argument to the role of over-parameterization $p = \\Omega(n)$ in neural networks. We also investigate the architectural b ias of attention-based networks\, showing that they are sensitive to the r eplacement of individual words in an embedded sentence\, allowing them to generalize on sentences where the contextual meaning depends on one or few words.Finally\, we study differentially private optimization in high-dime nsional regimes. We prove that standard private gradient methods do not su ffer in the over-parameterized regime $p = \\Omega(n)$\, challenging the c urrent wisdom based on stability-derived generalization bounds. We then co nsider linear regression in the proportional regime $n = \\Theta(d)$\, sho wing that standard private gradient descent can achieve optimal rates unde r appropriate hyper-parameter scaling\, such as sufficiently small gradien t clipping constants\, whose role is still debated in practice. LOCATION:Office Bldg West / Ground floor / Heinzel Seminar Room (I21.EG.101 ) and Zoom\, ISTA ORGANIZER: SUMMARY:Simone Bombari: Thesis Defense: Trustworthy Machine Learning in Hig h Dimensions URL:https://talks-calendar.ista.ac.at/events/6499 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260615T142935Z UID:1783004400@ist.ac.at DTSTART:20260702T170000 DTEND:20260702T180000 DESCRIPTION:Speaker: Igancio Cirac\nhosted by Julian Léonard & Maksym Serb yn\nAbstract: Advancements in quantum computing have enabled the developme nt of small-scale quantum computers that operate according to the principl es of quantum physics. One of the most important prospective applications of these devices is the simulation of complex quantum systems\, which aris e across many areas of physics and chemistry. Such simulations are notorio usly difficult\, if not impossible\, for classical computers\, even the mo st powerful supercomputers\, due to the exponential growth of required com putational resources with the number of particles in the system. In this talk\, I will first show how both analog and digital quantum devices could circumvent this limitation. Despite rapid progress\, however\, applicatio ns in this area remain limited\, as current quantum devices are imperfect: errors accumulate and pose serious challenges for solving practically rel evant problems. I will discuss how\, even in the presence of such errors\, near-term quantum computers can already become powerful tools for scienti fic discovery.A reception with food and drinks will be available for all r egistered guest after the lecture\, free of charge.Register here (https:// assets-eur.mkt.dynamics.com/c4c27152-17ec-47dc-b101-24b7ac15e0e6/digitalas sets/standaloneforms/432e0451-b7fa-4f34-bdbe-bd16d6a34eab?readableEventId= New_event_7110658852) Climate-friendly arrival & departureA shuttle bus w ill be available from Heiligenstadt at 14:57 - 15:57The regular shuttle bu s will return to Heiligenstadt at 18:28 - 18:58 - 19:28 - 20:28The s huttle bus is free of charge for all registered guests.How to get to ISTA Campus (https://ist.ac.at/en/campus/how-to-get-here/#msdynttrid=H5PQdGhs-B twLvoi1_nrHlgBiWNIt8n5CeLi0Mv1Y_4) The aim is to organize the event in ac cordance with the criteria of the Austrian Ecolabel for Green Meetings (ht tps://www.umweltzeichen.at/de/green-meetings-und-events/home). If you have any questions about the event's sustainability standards\, please contact the Green Event Officer Julia Kainrath (julia.kainrath@ista.ac.at). LOCATION:Raiffeisen Lecture Hall\, ISTA ORGANIZER:events@ista.ac.at SUMMARY:Igancio Cirac: ISTA Lecture | Ignacio Cirac URL:https://talks-calendar.ista.ac.at/events/6496 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260615T142935Z UID:1783076400@ist.ac.at DTSTART:20260703T130000 DTEND:20260703T140000 DESCRIPTION:Speaker: Xin Tong\nhosted by Carl Goodrich\nAbstract: Embryo cl eavage — a series of rapid\, reductive cell divisions — is the first m orphogenetic movement following fertilisation. It lays the foundation for subsequent developmental events\, including gastrulation\, germ layer spec ification\, organogenesis\, and the establishment of the overall body plan . Two major modes of cleavage exist in the animal kingdom: holoblastic (co mplete) and meroblastic (incomplete) cleavage. Because holoblastic cleavag e resembles canonical cytokinesis\, its biochemical and mechanical basis h as been extensively studied — an annular contractile ring forms at the e quator and constricts in a purse-string-like manner\, leading to the compl ete separation of two daughter cells. In contrast\, although meroblastic c leavage occurs widely across the animal kingdom (e.g. in fish\, reptiles\, birds\, and cephalopod molluscs)\, its mechanical basis remains largely u nclear. During meroblastic cleavage\, the cytokinetic furrow forms only at one pole and does not traverse the entire embryo\, raising the question o f how cytokinesis proceeds in the absence of a closed contractile ring. Mo reover\, the resulting daughter cells are not fully separated from the und erlying yolk compartment\, and how these blastomeres are subsequently cell ularised remains unknown. This thesis takes the zebrafish as a model organ ism to address both questions. The first part characterises the biochemica l and mechanical mechanisms underlying non-canonical meroblastic cleavage\ , revealing a two-phase process in which actomyosin cable contraction and cadherin-mediated membrane adhesion act sequentially to drive furrow ingre ssion and invagination. The second part sheds light on the spatiotemporal dynamics by which individual blastomeres become cellularised\, and uncover s a previously unrecognised contribution of central blastomeres to the yol k syncytial layer. LOCATION:Central Bldg / O1 / Mondi 3 (I01.O1.010) \, ISTA ORGANIZER: SUMMARY:Xin Tong: Thesis Defense: Towards a deeper understanding of merobla stic cleavage - biochemical mechanisms of partial cytokinesis and cellular ization in zebrafish embryogenesis URL:https://talks-calendar.ista.ac.at/events/6519 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260615T142935Z UID:1783598400@ist.ac.at DTSTART:20260709T140000 DTEND:20260709T150000 DESCRIPTION:Speaker: David Michalik\nhosted by Eva Benková\nAbstract: MDA5 is an antiviral protein that is activated by long dsRNA molecules. This R NA can be of various origins such as viral\, bacterial\, synthetic or\, up on certain stimuli\, even cellularsources. Upon sensing immunogenic RNA\, MDA5 coats the dsRNA\, forming a filament. Filament formation brings CARD domains into close proximity\, resulting in CARD oligomerisation. These ol igomers are not involved in the RNA recognition but are crucial for activa tion of downstream signalling. MDA5 activation leads to a type I interfero n response and apoptosis. Loss of function mutations are linked to recurre nt\, life-threatening viral infections whereas gain of function mutations are linked to monogenic and polygenic autoimmune diseases. For these reaso ns\, MDA5 needs to be tightly regulated by various mechanisms including po st-translational modifications\, post-transcriptional modifications\, and protein-protein interactions. In the first chapter\, we focused on the cha racterisation of novel phosphorylation sites in MDA5. Using biochemistry\, molecular dynamics simulations\, virology\, cell biology and mass spectro metry\, we characterised two phosphorylation sites that altered MDA5 activ ity andwere regulated in cells upon EMCV infection or IFN-β treatment. Fu rthermore\, we discovered an additional phosphorylation site in a non-cons erved region\, which is upregulated under both stimuli.In the second chapt er\, we focused on biochemical\, biophysical\, and structural characterisa tion of various RNAs and MDA5 filaments assembled on them. We discovered t hat poly I:C\, a synthetic RNA used to activate an immune response in cell s\, has distinct physicochemical characteristics and is not a true mimic o f viral RNA\, as is often described. Additionally\, we used cryogenic elec tron microscopy to gain structural insights into which RNA features define a strong activator of MDA5. To address this\, we compared poly I:C to pol y A:U\, an RNA that does not activate an MDA5 signalling in cells\, and to a virus-derived dsRNA. In the last chapter\, we focused on activators of MDA5 signalling. In the first part\, we present our efforts to isolate and identify a small molecule agonist of MDA5. In the last part\, we describ ed our contribution to a collaborative project during which we characteris ed the interaction of ANXA2 with MDA5 and activation of MDA5 by a small mo lecule. LOCATION:Sunstone Bldg / Ground floor / Big Seminar Room B / 63 seats (I23. EG.102)\, ISTA ORGANIZER: SUMMARY:David Michalik: Thesis Defense: Mechanistic insights into MDA5 sele ctivity and regulation URL:https://talks-calendar.ista.ac.at/events/6508 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260615T142935Z UID:1785740400@ist.ac.at DTSTART:20260803T090000 DTEND:20260807T140000 DESCRIPTION: LOCATION:Moonstone Seminar Center\, ISTA ORGANIZER:eurowd-2026@ista.ac.at SUMMARY:24th European Workshop on White Dwarfs URL:https://talks-calendar.ista.ac.at/events/6292 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260615T142935Z UID:1789983000@ist.ac.at DTSTART:20260921T113000 DTEND:20260921T123000 DESCRIPTION: LOCATION:ISTA | Central Building | Raiffeisen Lecture Hall\, ISTA ORGANIZER:diana.zubcevic@ista.ac.at SUMMARY:ISTA PostDoc Award URL:https://talks-calendar.ista.ac.at/events/6386 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260615T142935Z UID:1790089200@ist.ac.at DTSTART:20260922T170000 DTEND:20260922T180000 DESCRIPTION: LOCATION:Dr. Ignaz Seipel-Platz 2\, 1010 Vienna\, Austria\, ISTA ORGANIZER: SUMMARY:ÖAW-ISTA Lecture Prof. Klaus Robert Müller URL:https://talks-calendar.ista.ac.at/events/6288 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260615T142935Z UID:1790341200@ist.ac.at DTSTART:20260925T150000 DTEND:20260925T180000 DESCRIPTION:hosted by ISTA\nAbstract: Join a lively peertopeer event design ed for postdocs navigating the job search.Share practical tips\, vent comm on frustrations\, celebrate successes\, and exchange honest advice — all in a relaxed speednetworking format that reminds you: you’re not alone in this process!Food\, fun\, facilitation\, and meaningful connections inc luded.The Maria Gugging hills are waiting for you! LOCATION:Moonstone Seminar Room F+G\, ISTA ORGANIZER:boris.cesnik@ista.ac.at SUMMARY:PAW Closure Networking Event URL:https://talks-calendar.ista.ac.at/events/6495 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260615T142935Z UID:1791192600@ist.ac.at DTSTART:20261005T113000 DTEND:20261005T123000 DESCRIPTION:Speaker: Friedrich Stricker & Yuval Wigderson\nhosted by Mikhai l Lemeshko LOCATION:ISTA | Central Building | Raiffeisen Lecture Hall\, ISTA ORGANIZER:diana.zubcevic@ista.ac.at SUMMARY:Friedrich Stricker & Yuval Wigderson: Inaugural Lecture | Friedrich Stricker & Yuval Wigderson URL:https://talks-calendar.ista.ac.at/events/6357 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260615T142935Z UID:1792402200@ist.ac.at DTSTART:20261019T113000 DTEND:20261019T123000 DESCRIPTION:Speaker: Lora Sweeney\nhosted by Mario de Bono LOCATION:ISTA | Central Building | Raiffeisen Lecture Hall\, ISTA ORGANIZER:diana.zubcevic@ista.ac.at SUMMARY:Lora Sweeney: Tenure Talk | Lora Sweeney URL:https://talks-calendar.ista.ac.at/events/6387 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260615T142935Z UID:1794825000@ist.ac.at DTSTART:20261116T113000 DTEND:20261116T123000 DESCRIPTION:Speaker: Vivian Kuperberg & Carla Fernandez-Rico\nhosted by Mik hail Lemeshko LOCATION:ISTA | Central Building | Raiffeisen Lecture Hall\, ISTA ORGANIZER:diana.zubcevic@ista.ac.at SUMMARY:Vivian Kuperberg & Carla Fernandez-Rico: Inaugural Lecture | Vivian Kuperberg & Carla Fernandez-Rico URL:https://talks-calendar.ista.ac.at/events/6389 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260615T142935Z UID:1795429800@ist.ac.at DTSTART:20261123T113000 DTEND:20261123T123000 DESCRIPTION:Speaker: Kim Modic\nhosted by Mikhail Lemeshko LOCATION:ISTA | Central Building | Raiffeisen Lecture Hall\, ISTA ORGANIZER:diana.zubcevic@ista.ac.at SUMMARY:Kim Modic: Tenure Talk | Kim Modic URL:https://talks-calendar.ista.ac.at/events/6390 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR