Subject: SMB Digest v12i10
SMB Digest March 7, 2012 Volume 12 Issue 10
ISSN 1086-6566
Editor: Amina Eladdadi eladdada(at)strose(dot)edu
Note:
Information about the Society for Mathematical Biology, including an
application for membership, may be found in the SMB Home Page,
Access the Bulletin of Mathematical Biology, the official journal of SMB, at
Inquiries about membership or BMB fulfillment should be sent to
membership(at)smb(dot)org .
Issue's Topics:
Workshop: Mathways into Cancer, June 4-6, Almagro, Spain
Conference: Modern Trends in Math. & Physics, July 16-18, Palestine
Conference: Multiscale Modeling in Med. & Bio., September 3-5, UK
Graduate Course: Neutron Scattering Applications.., June 4-8, TN
Short Course: Infectious Disease Modeling, July 2-13, UK
PhD Position: Predicting Human Behavior in Earth.., U. of Edinburgh
PhD Position: Neuroinformatics & Comp. Neuroscience, U. of Edinburgh
Postdoc: Modeling Contact Investigation and Rapid Response, UCSF
Fellowship in Information Visualization for the Bio. Sciences, UK
SMBnet Reminders
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Date: Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 2:33 AM
Subject: Workshop-Mathways into Cancer, June 4-6, Almagro, Spain
MATHWAYS INTO CANCER, Almagro, Ciudad Real (Spain), June 4-6, 2012
We are organizing a workshop on mathematical modeling of cancer
"Mathways into Cancer" in Almagro, Ciudad Real (Spain), June 4-6,
2012.
You may access updated information concerning all details of the
meeting (i.e. lodging, venue, registration and abstract submission
details, etc.) on the workshop website:
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Date: Fri, Mar 2, 2012 at 10:23 AM
Subject: Conference: Modern Trends in Math. & Physics, July 16-18,
Hebron, Palestine
You are cordially invited to join us for the ?Third Palestinian
Conference on Modern Trends in Mathematics and Physics? that will be
held on July 16-18, 2012 at the Palestine Polytechnic University in
Hebron, Palestine.
Please note the deadline for abstract submission is March 15, 2012
If you have not done so, online registration and abstract submission
For further information, please contact me at:
Ahmed Khamayseh, Conference Chair
College of Applied Sciences
Palestine Polytechnic University
Hebron, Palestine
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Date: Tue, Mar 6, 2012 at 11:49 AM
Subject: Conference: Multiscale Modeling in Med. & Bio., Sept. 3-5, UK
First Announcement:
Multiscale Modeling in Medicine and Biology Nottingham, UK, 3-5
September 2012
This conference, ran by the Centre for Mathematical Medicine and
the Mathematical Biosciences Institute (MBI, Ohio,
modeling across a range of applications in medicine and biology, and
crossing spatial scales from molecules to populations of organisms. It
will bring together experts working at different scales on particular
systems, and include mathematical approaches to derive macroscale
models from microscale, as well as computational approaches to link
submodels at multiple scales. By bringing together these sometimes
disparate groups, we will disseminate state-of-the-art approaches and
facilitate the cross-fertilisation of ideas. For example, techniques
of modeling at the (sub-) cellular scale may be applicable to the
study of population interactions, dispersal and epidemics, and
vice-versa.
The meeting will begin with Registration 10:00-11:00am on Mon 3 Sept,
and end at 16:00 on Wed 5 Sept. We will include 12 plenary talks over
this period, and invite contributed talks and poster
presentations. This schedule will allow for plenty of time for
discussion and interaction between attendees.
Confirmed speakers:
? Steven Altshuler (UT Southwestern)
? Sharon Crook (Arizona State)
? Ursula Klingmüller (German Cancer Research Center)
? Peter Kohl (Imperial)
? Roeland Merks (Netherlands Institute for Sytems Biology)
? Tim Secomb (Arizona)
? James Sneyd (Auckland)
? Michael Stumpf (Imperial)
? Kirsten ten Tusscher (Utrecht)
There is no registration fee, and meals and accommodation will be
provided. Participants will be selected from applications based upon
their proposed contribution to the meeting and stated reasons for
participation.
Some financial support for travel costs will be available. Preference
will be given to PhD students, postdoctoral researchers and young
faculty.
Please complete the registration form by 31 May 2012 if you wish to
attend the conference.
Markus Owen, Bindi Brook, Stephen Coombes, Oliver Jensen, Theo
Kypraios, Simon Preston, Rüdiger Thul
Centre for Mathematical Medicine and Biology, University of Nottingham
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Date: Tue, Mar 6, 2012 at 8:50 AM
Subject: The Neutron Scattering Applications in Structural Biology
School, June 4-8, TN
FINAL REMINDER of March 19, 2012, Application Deadline for the Neutron
Scattering Applications in Structural Biology School
Third Course on Neutron Scattering Applications in Structural Biology
Oak Ridge, TN. June 4 - 8, 2012
Application deadline: March 19 , 2012
No registration fee. Travel and accommodation grants available for
participants from U.S. institutions.
Detailed information available at:
----------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, Mar 2, 2012 at 12:46 PM
Subject: Introduction to Infectious Disease Modelling and its
Applications 2012
Two week intensive course on: INTRODUCTION TO INFECTIOUS DISEASE
MODELING AND ITS APPLICATIONS
Organized jointly between the London School of Hygiene & Tropical
Medicine and the Health Protection Agency, UK
Venue: London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Course dates: 2nd ? 13th July 2012
Cost: £1,995
Summary:
Mathematical modelling is increasingly applied to predict the future
incidence and control of infectious diseases. Applications include
predicting the impact of control strategies, such as vaccination or
treatment, against pandemic influenza, measles, HIV, vector-borne
diseases and veterinary problems. Modelling was used extensively in
the UK during the swine flu pandemic to monitor the extent of ongoing
transmission and the potential impact of interventions such as school
closures and vaccination.
This two week intensive course introduces professionals working on
infectious diseases in human or animal populations to this exciting
and expanding area. The emphasis of the course is on developing a
conceptual understanding of the basic methods and on their practical
application, rather than the manipulation of mathematical
equations. The course provides numerous practical examples, including
real-time modelling of outbreaks, pandemic influenza, sexually
transmitted infections, HIV, vector-borne and animal diseases, as well
as tuberculosis, measles and rubella. The material from this popular
and successful course is further complemented by the recently
published book ?An Introduction to Infectious Disease Modelling? which
was written by two of the course organizers (Emilia Vynnycky and
Richard White) - see
By the end of the course, participants will have deepened their
current understanding of infectious disease epidemiology and have
gained an understanding and practical experience of the basics of
infections disease modelling, which will be important in their future
work.
Who should attend:
The course is designed for individuals interested in expanding their
knowledge of the techniques for analysing and interpreting
epidemiological data on infectious diseases and for predicting the
impact of control programmes, including medical and health
professionals, policy makers, veterinary scientists, health
economists, medical statisticians and infectious disease researchers.
Specialist mathematical training is not a prerequisite. However,
individuals with degrees in mathematical disciplines working on some
aspect of infectious disease dynamics and/or control, who wish to
learn about the potential of infectious disease modelling will also
benefit.
For copies of the leaflet and application form, please contact:
Registry
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Keppel Street
London, WC1E 7HT, UK
Further details about the course content are available at
or contact one of the course organizers:
Emilia Vynnycky or Richard White
----------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 5 Mar 2012 20:44:55 +0000
Subject: PhD in Predicting Human Behavior in Earth System Models
Developing Novel Computational Methods to Describe and Predict Human
Behavior in Earth System Models.
Supervisor: Paul Palmer, University of Edinburgh
Microsoft Research supervisor: Drew Purves
Summary: We describe a PhD project that will fundamentally improve
understanding of how humans will respond to changing climate and
associated environmental factors. We present two interrelated
projects:
1. We will develop a model of the relationship between the changing
climate and conflict, including demographic transitions, and how it is
affected by the outbreak and spread of disease
2. We will develop a model of climate-related migration, borrowing
ideas from behavioral ecology, to look at how racial tension and
bounded rationality might affect how communities eventually migrate.
For both projects, an emphasis will be on these predictive models
reproducing observed socio-economic metrics, largely provided by the
United Nations, so that we develop confidence before we apply them to
future climate scenarios.
Interested applicants should send a cover letter and CV to Paul Palmer
----------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, Mar 6, 2012 at 11:32 AM
Subject: PhD studentships in Neuroinformatics and Computational
Neuroscience, University of Edinburgh
Second-round applications for 2012-2013 fully-funded PhD studentships
at the University of Edinburgh Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) in
Neuroinformatics and Computational Neuroscience are now being
considered. The DTC is a world-class centre for research at the
interface between neuroscience and the engineering, computational, and
physical sciences.
Our four-year programme is ideal for students with strong
computational and analytical skills who want to employ cutting-edge
methodology to advance research in neuroscience and related fields, or
to apply ideas from neuroscience to computational problems. The first
year consists of courses in neuroscience and informatics, as well as
lab projects. This is followed by a three-year PhD project done in
collaboration with one of the many departments and institutes
affiliated with the DTC.
Current DTC PhD topics fall into five main areas:
1. Computational neuroscience: Using analytical and computational
models, potentially supplemented with experiments, to gain
quantitative understanding of the nervous system. Many projects focus
on the development and function of sensory and motor systems in
animals, including neural coding, learning, and memory.
2. Biomedical imaging algorithms and tools: Using advanced data
analysis techniques, such as machine learning and Bayesian approaches,
for imaging-based diagnosis and research.
3. Cognitive science: Studying human cognitive processes and analyzing
them in computational terms.
4. Neuromorphic engineering: Using insights from neuroscience to help
build better hardware, such as neuromorphic VLSI circuits and robots
that perform robustly under natural conditions.
5. Software systems and applications: Using discoveries from
neuroscience to develop software that can handle real-world data, such
as video, audio, or speech.
Other related areas of research are also encouraged. Edinburgh has a
large, world-class research community in these areas and leads the UK
in creating a coherent programme in neuroinformatics and computational
neuroscience. Edinburgh has often been voted 'best place to live in
Britain', and has many exciting cultural and student activities.
Students with a strong background in computer science, mathematics,
physics, or engineering are particularly encouraged to apply. Highly
motivated students with other backgrounds will also be considered.
Three full studentships (including stipend of 14,215-17,326 UK
pounds/year) are still available to EU citizens which have been
residing in the UK for the past three years (whether for work or for
education); see the web site (below) for full details. Other
applicants can be accepted if they provide their own funding,
typically via a scholarship from their country of origin.
Further information and application forms can be obtained from:
For full consideration for entry in September 2012 the deadline for
complete applications is March 31st, 2012.
----------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, Feb 29, 2012 at 3:08 PM
Subject: Postdoc-Modeling Contact Investigation and Rapid Response,
UCSF
Travis Porco, PhD, MPH is a member of the faculty at UCSF. He is
interested in posting a postdoctoral position. Following is the
posting in its entirety. Please get in touch with me if you have any
questions about this listing or if you need additional information
regarding our request.
A full-time Post-Doctoral Research Scientist position is available at
the University of California, San Francisco, funded by a grant
entitled 'Modeling Contact Investigation and Rapid Response' funded
through the NIGMS MIDAS program ('Modeling Infectious Disease Agents
and Systems'). The project seeks to use California tuberculosis
genotyping data to assess agent-based models of tuberculosis contact
investigation. Candidates applying for this position must have or be
near completion of a doctoral degree in Mathematical modeling,
Biostatistics, Statistics, Epidemiology, Applied Mathematics,
Biomathematics, or a related discipline. Persons with a strong
background and interest in mathematical modeling and/or infectious
disease dynamics are encouraged to apply. Programming experience in at
least one of C, C++, Mathematica, or R is strongly recommended. The
expected duration of the postdoctoral position is 2 years.
UCSF seeks candidates whose experience, teaching, research, or
community service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to
diversity and excellence. UCSF is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative
Action Employer. The University undertakes affirmative action to
assure equal employment opportunity for underutilized minorities and
women, for persons with disabilities, and for covered veterans. All
qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, including minorities and
women.
Please submit a statement of interest and a CV to Leslie Aguayo
----------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, Mar 6, 2012 at 2:27 AM
Subject: Senior Research Fellow in Information Visualisation for the
Biological Sciences
Fellowship in Information Visualisation for the Biological Sciences
Fixed term contract for up to 3 years (with possible 1 year extension)
We are looking for an exceptional Senior Research Fellow to oversee
the creation and management of 3D visualisation solutions across the
2020 Science research programme. The post is funded by a large EPSRC
grant and will involve working on projects based across three
principle sites, Oxford, UCL and Microsoft Research, Cambridge. The
post holder will be expected to design and implement a visualisation
strategy across the programme to determine where visualisation
solutions would be most appropriate and the form they might take.
We will consider candidates from various backgrounds, but all must be
able to give evidence of their ability to produce outstanding and
novel scientific visualisations and communicate their work effectively
to a diverse mix of academics and scientists. Applicants should have
a degree or PhD in a relevant area (e.g. Information Design,
Computational Science, Mathematical or Computational Biology, Applied
Mathematics, or Computer Science) coupled with an excellent portfolio
of research in visualisation or information design.
The Fellow will undertake research as a member of the University of
Oxford, based in one of the Departments associated with the program
and be responsible to the Principal Investigators of the program.
The post is available for up to 3 years (with possible 1 year
extension), has a salary on the University grade 08S scale
(£37,012-£44,166 p.a.) or grade 07S scale (£29,249-£35,938 p.a.)
depending on experience.
For further details and to apply please visit:
The closing date for applications is 30 March 2012.
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Subject: SMBnet Reminders
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