NSF-Simons NITMB appoints Dr. Joseph Hibdon as First Rotating Associate Director for Convening Programs
- NITMB
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
The NSF-Simons National Institute for Theory and Math in Biology (NITMB) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Joseph Hibdon as the inaugural Rotating Associate Director for Convening Programs. Dr. Hibdon joins NITMB from Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU), where he serves as an Associate Professor in the Mathematics Department. He has been an active member of NITMB and has advised on outreach programs since its inception. His appointment comes at a pivotal time for the institute in the second year of operations and coincides with the completion of premiere collaboration space and a state-of-the-art 150-seat auditorium.
NITMB is funded by the National Science Foundation (DMS-2235451) and Simons Foundation (MP-TMPS-00005320) and supported by a partnership between Northwestern University and The University of Chicago. NITMB fosters a nationwide collaborative research community through research, training, and scientific workshops programming dedicated to research at the interface between mathematics and biology.
In this new role, Dr. Hibdon will lead efforts to enhance NITMB’s convening programs, which include workshops, collaborative meetings, and interdisciplinary research programs designed to bring together leading minds in biology, mathematics, and related fields. He joins Drs. Mary Silber and Antonio Auffinger in their inaugural leadership in convening programs. His expertise and experience fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration make him uniquely suited to guiding the strategic development of NITMB’s convening programs.
“We are excited to welcome him as the first Rotating Associate Director and look forward to the energy and vision he will bring to our programs,” said Dr. Richard Carthew, Director of NITMB and Professor of Northwestern’s Molecular Biosciences Department.
Dr. Hibdon received his PhD in Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics from Northwestern University at the McCormick School of Engineering. He has a history of collaborative research and administrative management in higher education, and has a diverse research portfolio covering mathematical modeling, dynamical systems, fluid mechanics, combustion theory, and resource modeling.
“Joe’s considerable convening programs experience obtained through his work with other national NSF Math Institutes, such as ICERM and IMSI, will be invaluable to us,” said Deputy Director of Broader Impacts William Kath, Professor of Northwestern’s Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics Department.
“I’m honored to be joining NITMB in this new capacity to support its mission. My goal over the next year is to leverage the amazing work of Dr. Mary Silber and Dr. Tuca Auffinger (Associate Directors in Convening Activities) and the staff at NITMB in bringing people in to do excellent research and develop new communities,” said Dr. Hibdon.
Dr. Hibdon’s term as Rotating Associate Director for Convening Programs began June 1st, 2025.
About NITMB
The National Institute for Theory and Math in Biology (NITMB) aims to integrate the disciplines of mathematics and biology to transform the practice of biological research and to inspire new mathematical discoveries. The mission of NITMB is to create a nationwide collaborative research community that will generate new mathematical results and uncover the “rules of life” through theories, data-informed mathematical models, and computational and statistical tools.
