Announcing the Inaugural Issue of SIALS

SIAM is pleased to announce that the SIAM Journal on Life Sciences (SIALS) is now publishing! SIALS is a new peer reviewed journal dedicated to advancing quantitative life sciences research through rigorous mathematical and computational approaches. Led by Editor-in-Chief Jonathan E. Rubin, SIALS released its first issue on March 30 as SIAM’s nineteenth academic journal. The journal is free to read for its first two years, through early 2028.

The creation of SIALS also highlights a pivotal moment for both the applied mathematics and the life sciences communities, which have a growing need for cross-disciplinary scholarship to address the complex biological questions of today and tomorrow. SIALS has been thoughtfully designed and structured to provide an outlet for this kind of integrated scholarship, where mathematical depth and biological insight can be brought together in new ways and made accessible to broad, interdisciplinary audiences.

“I hope this issue marks the beginning of a new standard for quantitative life sciences publishing—one that draws researchers from across disciplines and promotes deep cross-fertilization of ideas,” said Rubin.

Why a SIAM Journal on the Life Sciences?

SIAM believes that launching a new academic journal requires a clearly demonstrated need within the applied mathematics community. In the case of mathematical biology, computational biology, biophysics, and biomedical engineering, that need has been unmistakable. Researchers across these fields have long sought a platform where mathematical depth and biological relevance receive equal emphasis, which is an interdisciplinary space well suited to SIAM’s mission and expertise.

“What has been missing is a venue where mathematics can shine without marginalizing the biological importance of the work. SIALS was created to meet that need,” said Rubin.

SIALS’s mission is to publish research in which:

• The mathematics is central, rigorous, and substantial 
• The biological insights are meaningful, clearly articulated, and well-motivated  
• Readers from both of these disciplines can access and benefit from the work 

To support this mission, SIALS incorporates several distinctive features:

• A three-part abstract format that clearly separates general context, life science relevance, and mathematical content 
• Dedicated explanatory boxes that provide intuitive introductions to mathematical techniques for readers outside the field 
• A curated “Further Reading” section to help readers explore foundational mathematical or biological background  
• A dual expectation that submissions offer both mathematical innovation and biological significance

By combining mathematical precision with biological insight, SIALS serves applied mathematicians, theoretical biologists, biomedical engineers, quantitative experimentalists, clinicians, and researchers in industrial and translational settings.

SIAM’s reputation for publishing high quality, well managed journals make it the ideal home for a publication at this interdisciplinary frontier. This strong publishing infrastructure has shaped every step of the creation of SIALS, from developing new author guidelines and editorial policies to assembling an interdisciplinary editorial board.

Looking Ahead with SIALS

What can readers expect to find inside SIALS? SIAM and the team of editors intend for the journal to highlight methods, models, and theories that support deeper understanding of biological systems and processes.

SIALS editors also plan to feature occasional “Call for Models” articles written by experimentalists and practitioners, spotlighting biological areas where new mathematical or computational approaches are especially needed. These contributions will help inspire new collaborations and encourage researchers to engage with emerging challenges in the life sciences.

SIALS welcomes submissions across the full spectrum of mathematical and computational life sciences. Researchers whose work integrates mathematical innovation with biologically grounded applications are encouraged to submit their manuscripts to SIALS.

Learn more about SIALS and read the first issue. The journal is free to read through early 2028.