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Subject: SMB Digest v12i25
SMB Digest June 19, 2012 Volume 12 Issue 25
ISSN 1086-6566
Editor: Richard Schugart richard(dot)schugart(at)gmail(dot)com
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
Inquiries about membership or BMB fulfillment should be sent to
membership(at)smb(dot)org .
Issue's Topics:
Updated Solicitation for the Joint DMS/NIGMS Initiative
Change in Deadline for the NSF DMS Mathematical Biology Program
MBI Emphasis Program Competition
Support Available for Activities at NIMBioS, U Tennessee
Workshop: Multiscale Modelling in..., Sept 3-5, U Nottingham
PhD Fellowship: Pharmacometrics & Comp..., PharMetrX, Germany
PhD Studentships: Bioinformatics/immuno-virology..., UNSW
Post-docs: NIMBioS, U Tennessee, Knoxville
Post-doc: Physics of Living Systems, Moffitt Cancer, Tampa, FL
Post-doc: RICAM, Optimization & Optimal Control, Linz, Austria
SMBnet Reminders
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Date: June 16, 2012 10:02:58 AM
Subject: Updated Solicitation for the Joint DMS/NIGMS Initiative
An updated NSF program solicitation is now available:
Joint DMS/NIGMS Initiative to Support Research at the Interface of the
Biological and Mathematical Sciences (DMS/NIGMS)
Please see
for details.
Full Proposal Deadline Date: September 17, 2012
From the solicitation:
The extraordinary growth of data-rich biology has created revolutionary
opportunities for mathematically-driven advances in biological research.
In this initiative, the National Institute of General Medical Sciences
(NIGMS) and the National Science Foundation's Division of Mathematical
Sciences (NSF/DMS) join together to promote research at the interface of
the biological and mathematical sciences. The expertise of the DMS in
the mathematical and statistical sciences, and of the complementary
expertise of NIGMS in biological and biomedical research are expected to
create new opportunities in quantitative biological research.
This competition is designed to support research using sophisticated
mathematical and statistical techniques and involving significant
quantitative challenges to answer biological questions in areas
supported by NSF/DMS and NIH/NIGMS. A direct relationship between a
biological application and the mathematical and/or statistical work is
expected. Research teams that include scientists from both the life
sciences community and the mathematical and statistical sciences
communities are encouraged. Both new and existing collaborations will be
supported. Proposals from individual investigators will need to make the
case that the individual has expertise in both fields.
Successful proposals will either identify innovative mathematics or
statistics needed to solve an important biological problem or involve
the formulation and analysis of new mathematical, computational or
statistical models whose analysis poses significant mathematical
challenges. Research that would apply standard mathematical or
statistical techniques to solve biological problems is not appropriate
for this competition and should be submitted directly to NIH. Similarly,
proposals with research in mathematics or statistics that is not tied to
a specific biological problem should be submitted to the appropriate DMS
program at NSF. Proposals designed to create new software tools based on
existing models and methods will not be accepted in this competition.
Revision Notes:
The deadline has been shifted to approximately two weeks earlier than
previous competitions to facilitate program management.
Three significant requirements impact the format of the proposal and
deviate from GPG or NSF Grants.gov Application Guide guidelines.
Project Description: The project description should consist of two
distinct parts. (1) No more than 12 pages addressing the NSF criterion
of Intellectual Merit. Note that this NSF criterion corresponds with the
NIH criteria of Significance, Investigators, Innovation, Approach, and
Environment. (2) Up to 3 additional pages addressing the NSF criterion
of Broader Impacts.
Protection of Human Subjects/Use and Care of Vertebrate Animals: Both
NSF and NIH have rules regarding the use of human subjects and/or
vertebrate animals in research. Proposals that involve human subjects or
use vertebrate animals MUST INCLUDE the information required by both
agencies. See the NSF Grant Proposal Guide (Proposal Preparation,
Special Guidelines) AND the NIH PHS Form 398 for additional information.
Information on the use of human subjects and/or vertebrate animals is
considered in the review of the proposals and should be submitted
separately as a Supplementary Document.
Results from Prior NSF and/or NIH Support: If any PI or co-PI identified
on the project has received NSF or NIH funding in the past five years,
information on the award(s) is required. Each PI and co-PI who has
received more than one award (excluding amendments) must report on the
award most closely related to the proposal. The following information
must be provided:
1. the NSF or NIH award number, amount and period of support;
2. the title of the project;
3. a summary of the results of the completed work, including
accomplishments related to the Broader Impact activities supported by
the award and, for a research project, any contribution to the
development of human resources in science and engineering;
4. publications resulting from the NSF award;
5. evidence of research products and their availability, including, but
not limited to: data, publications, samples, physical collections,
software, and models, as described in any Data Management Plan; and
6. if the proposal is for renewed support, a description of the relation
of the completed work to the proposed work.
Reviewers will be asked to comment on the quality of the prior work
described in this section of the proposal. Please note that the proposal
may contain up to five total pages to describe the results. Results of
prior support may be summarized in either the 12-page section on
Intellectual Merit or in the 3-page section on Broader Impacts, at the
discretion of the principal investigator.
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Date: June 16, 2012 10:04:51 AM
Subject: Change in Deadline for the NSF DMS Mathematical Biology Program
NEW DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS TO THE MATHEMATICAL BIOLOGY PROGRAM IN THE
DIVISION OF MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES (DMS) AT THE NATIONAL SCIENCE
FOUNDATION
Full Proposal Window: November 1, 2012 - November 15, 2012
(November 1 - November 15, Annually Thereafter)
Due to recent changes in the deadlines of three of the divisions in the
Directorate of Biological Sciences (BIO), the Mathematical Biology
program is shifting its deadline in order to facilitate timely review
that will enable the program to continue its longstanding practice of
co-review and co-funding with BIO. To ensure both the timely handling
of proposals and fairness in comparing competing requests for funding,
the DMS Mathematical Biology subprogram has established a Proposal
Submission Window. The window for Fiscal Year 2013 and following years
extends annually from 1 November (8:00 AM local time) to 15 November
(5:00 PM local time). Except for conference and workshop proposals,
which should be submitted about eight months before the requested
starting date, only proposals submitted during this period will be
considered for review.
SYNOPSIS
The Mathematical Biology Program supports research in areas of applied
and computational mathematics with relevance to the biological sciences.
Successful proposals are mathematically innovative and address
challenging problems of interest to members of the biological community.
Projects may include development of mathematical concepts and tools
traditionally seen in other disciplinary programs within the Division of
Mathematical Sciences, e.g., topology, probability, statistics, and
computation, etc. To receive appropriate and timely review, such
proposals should be submitted directly to the relevant disciplinary
program that has the earliest deadline, but they will be considered for
co-review by the Mathematical Biology program, which may be selected as
a secondary program. Note that proposals that use established
mathematical, statistical, and computational tools to address problems
in the biological sciences are typically not appropriate for
consideration by the disciplinary programs within DMS. For further
details on other disciplinary programs within the division, see the
details of the program descriptions.
In general, if a proposal is appropriate for review by more than one
disciplinary program within the Division of Mathematical Sciences, it is
advisable to contact the program officers handling each program to
determine when the proposal should be submitted and to facilitate the
review process. Usually, it is most appropriate to submit in line with
the earliest program deadline. If proposals are appropriate for
co-review, but are not received in time to include them in the review
process for all programs, then they may considered by only a subset of
the programs or may be returned without review. In addition, the
Mathematical Biology Program interacts with every division in the NSF
Directorate of Biological Sciences, as well as with multiple divisions
within the Directorate for Engineering, and its interests overlap those
of the programs within these divisions. Mathematical Biology regularly
seeks joint reviews of proposals with programs in the Directorates of
Biological Sciences and Engineering. Investigators are encouraged to
discuss their project with program officers in both areas to determine
if it should be considered for co-review.
For further information about the various disciplinary programs within
the division, refer to the DMS website at
the Mathematical Biology program, contact Mary Ann Horn (
mhorn@nsf.gov)
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Date: June 19, 2012 7:54:33 AM
Subject: MBI Emphasis Program Competition
The Mathematical Biosciences Institute is announcing a competition for
emphasis semester and emphasis year programs. For more information, go
----------------------------------------------------
Date: June 18, 2012 9:36:28 AM
Subject: Support Available for Activities at NIMBioS, U Tennessee
Support Available for Activities at the National Institute for
Mathematical and Biological Synthesis
September 1, 2012 is the deadline for requests for support for Working
Groups, Investigative Workshops, Postdoctoral Fellows, Sabbaticals, and
Short-term Visitors for activities beginning spring 2013 at the National
Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS). All areas
of research at the interface of biology and mathematics will be
considered. NIMBioS, located at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville,
is an NSF-sponsored initiative to foster interdisciplinary research at
the interface between mathematical and biological sciences. The
institute's mission is to cultivate cross-disciplinary approaches in
mathematical biology and to develop a cadre of researchers who address
fundamental and applied biological problems in creative ways. Other
NIMBioS sponsors include DHS and USDA, with additional support from the
University of Tennessee-Knoxville. More details are posted at
Related Links:
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Date: June 14, 2012 6:52:54 AM
Subject: Workshop: Multiscale Modelling in..., Sept 3-5, U Nottingham
We are approaching capacity for this conference with an outstanding set
of plenary speakers. After 30 June there will be a registration fee of
100 pounds, so please sign up!
Multiscale Modelling in Medicine and Biology
Nottingham, UK, 3-5 September 2012
This conference, run by the Centre for Mathematical Medicine and Biology
bring together scientists using mathematical modelling across a range of
applications in medicine and biology, and crossing spatial scales from
molecules to tissues and 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 modelling at
the (sub-) cellular scale may be applicable to the study of population
interactions, dispersal and epidemics, and vice-versa.
We have a great line-up of confirmed speakers:
Steven Altschuler (UT Southwestern)
Sharon Crook (Arizona State)
Thomas Eissing (Systems Biology, Bayer)
Ursula Klingmuller (German Cancer Research Center)
Peter Kohl (Imperial)
Roeland Merks (Netherlands Institute for Sytems Biology)
Ramit Mehr (Bar-Ilan University))
Tim Secomb (Arizona)
James Sneyd (Auckland)
Michael Stumpf (Imperial)
Kirsten ten Tusscher (Utrecht)
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.
Registration before 30 June is free, 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. You can find the registration form at:
best wishes,
Markus Owen, Bindi Brook, Stephen Coombes, Oliver Jensen, Theo Kypraios,
Simon Preston, Rudiger Thul
(Centre for Mathematical Medicine and Biology, University of Nottingham)
----------------------------------------------------
Date: June 18, 2012 7:03:30 AM
Subject: PhD Fellowship: Pharmacometrics & Comp..., PharMetrX, Germany
The Graduate Research Training Program PharMetrX: Pharmacometrics &
Computational Disease Modelling is an interdisciplinary PhD program
bridging pharmacy and mathematics. PharMetrX offers its graduate
students a unique opportunity to experience research in drug development
and optimising drug therapy jointly within academia and industry.
The PhD program is designed as a 3-year research program including a
structured research training curriculum of advanced academic and
industrial modules and a competitive research fellowship.
We are currently inviting applications to start the PharMetrX PhD
program in March 2013. Deadline for applications: September 16th, 2012.
PharMetrX is a joint program of the Martin-Luther-Unversitaet
Halle-Wittenberg, the Freie Universitaet Berlin and the Universitat
Potsdam, supported by five research-driven pharmaceutical companies.
Charlotte Koft & Wilhelm Huisinga
(PharMetrX steering board)
----------------------------------------------------
Date: June 15, 2012 1:29:31 AM
Subject: PhD Studentships: Bioinformatics/immuno-virology..., UNSW
PhD studentship: Bioinformatics / immuno-virology of hepatitis C
infection.
The Infection and Immunity Group at the University of New South Wales is
looking for a PhD student to work on research projects in the area of
bioinformatics / immuno-virology that are aimed at better understanding
the epidemiology and pathogenesis of hepatitis C infection.
Successful applicants will join a team of wet- and dry-lab researchers,
working on various aspects of the hepatitis C virus and immune responses
against the virus. This research is done in collaboration with
experimental scientists in the fields of virology and immunology. The
project may also involve wet-lab component.
The projects are suited to students with a strong background in a
quantitative discipline such as bioinformatics, computing science,
physics, mathematics or statistics. Some understanding of virology or
immunology. Acceptance is competitive, with a first class honors
degree (or equivalent) and a GPA of >87% required.
Additional information on the Infection and Immunity Group's research
interests is available at:
The PhD will be supervised by Dr Fabio Luciani (see
and co-supervised by experienced experimental scientist from the Group.
There are two types of PhD student scholarships on offer:
1. A full stipend of AUD25000 (maximum per annum).
2. A scholarship of AUD8000 (maximum per annum) to supplement an
Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) or International Postgraduate
Research Scholarship (IPRS).
These scholarships are for study at the University of New South Wales in
Australia and are to be used for living expenses.
More information on the postgraduate research scholarships is
Interested applicants should contact Dr Fabio Luciani:
details about previous employment history (if any), education history,
technical skills, and research interests.
----------------------------------------------------
Date: June 19, 2012 11:59:15 AM
Subject: Post-docs: NIMBioS, U Tennessee, Knoxville
Call for Postdoctoral Fellowship Applications at NIMBioS
Next Deadline: September 1, 2012
The National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis
(NIMBioS), located at the Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, is currently
accepting applications for postdoctoral scholarship at the interface
between mathematics and biology. Highest priority will be given to those
with explicit plans to develop their ability to effectively carry on
research across these fields. We are particularly interested in requests
to support research that integrates diverse fields, requires synthesis
at multiple scales, and/or makes use of or requires development of new
mathematical/computational approaches. NIMBioS Postdoctoral Fellows are
chosen based upon indications that the applicant's research plans are
consistent with the mission of NIMBioS, the applicant has the
demonstrated ability to carry out the proposed research, and the
opportunities provided through NIMBioS will enhance the capacity for the
research to be completed in an efficient and timely manner.
Support: annual stipend of $51,000, full University of Tennessee
employee fringe benefits, and an annual travel allowance of $2,000.
How to apply: Complete the online application and submit a brief project
description, references, and CV following the guidelines available at
Deadline: NIMBioS postdoctoral requests for support are reviewed three
times per year, and the selected researchers are offered positions at
NIMBioS where they conduct research that is mostly self-directed. The
deadline for activities beginning in winter/spring 2013 is September 1,
2012. All letters of recommendation must be submitted before the
request deadline.
The National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis
around the world to collaborate across disciplinary boundaries to
investigate solutions to basic and applied problems in the life
sciences. NIMBioS is sponsored by the National Science Foundation, the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Department of
Agriculture with additional support from The University of Tennessee,
Knoxville.
----------------------------------------------------
Date: June 14, 2012 3:14:43 PM
Subject: Post-doc: Physics of Living Systems, Moffitt Cancer, Tampa, FL
Postdoctoral Fellow ? The physics of living systems
We are looking for a highly motivated individual to work with Robert
Gatenby, MD, in the Integrative Mathematical Oncology (IMO) Department
at Moffitt Cancer Center. This position is funded by a 2 year grant
titled "The physics of living systems", and the chosen candidate will
also work closely with B. Roy Frieden, PhD, at the University of Arizona
in an ongoing project to define first principles of living systems using
non-equilibrium thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, and information
theory. An extension of this work examines the role of accumulating
mutations and loss of mitochondrial energy production to induce a
cellular phase transition leading to cancer. We seek a talented,
creative individual with a Doctorate degree in mathematics or the
physical sciences and strong background in biology (or vice-versa).
The successful candidate will have demonstrated creativity, high
motivation, good communication skills and experience in
developing/writing publications. They should possess the ability to work
independently and within the research group. A solid understanding of
biology and a desire to work closely with experimentalists and
clinicians is also necessary. A Background in non-equilibrium
thermodynamics, information theory and statistical mechanics is
preferred.
The IMO combines mathematicians, computer scientists, and imaging
specialists with clinical and experimental oncologists focused on
developing novel approaches for the treatment and understanding of
cancer. This unique research environment includes state of the art
computational facilities and access to experimental and clinical data.
Moffitt Cancer Center is an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center
on the University of South Florida Campus. Moffitt is the third largest
clinical cancer center in the US and conducts extensive research on
various aspects of Cancer Biology with emphasis on translational
research. The Research environment includes state of the art core
facilities and pathogen-free animal facilities, and access to clinical
material.
a CV to the application.
----------------------------------------------------
Date: June 18, 2012 5:53:38 AM
Subject: Post-doc: RICAM, Optimization & Optimal Control, Linz, Austria
PostDoc Position (f/m) in the Optimization and Optimal Control Group
At the Johann Radon Institute for Computational and Applied Mathematics
(RICAM) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Linz, Austria, the
"Scientific Computing - Optimization and Optimal Control Group" is
searching a PostDoc with a strong background in partial differential
equations, variational problems or scientific computing. The research
focus will be adjusted according to the interests of the successful
candidate, but knowledge in optimal control or optimization is
especially welcome.
A doctorate in mathematics or a closely related field is required. The
working language is English. For more information contact
RICAM went into operation on January 1, 2003 and has built research
groups in eight areas:
-Analysis in Partial Differential Equations
-Computational Methods for Direct Field Problems
-Inverse Problems
-Mathematical Imaging
-Mathematical Methods in Molecular and Systems Biology
-Optimization and Optimal Control
-Symbolic Computation
-Transfer Group
The Institute is housed on the campus of the Johannes Kepler University
in Linz, a town of about 190.000 on the Danube, close to the Austrian
Alps and half-way between Vienna and Salzburg. Further information is
Applications with personal and scientific data and a compact statement
about scientific interests and achievements should be sent, preferably
Postal address:
Prof. Dr. Karl Kunisch
Institute for Mathematics and Scientific Computing, University of Graz
Heinrichstrasse 36, A-8010 Graz, Austria
The Austrian Academy of Sciences is an equal opportunity employer.
We are approaching interested candidates, prepared to exercise the
aforementioned duties for a yearly gross salary of 45.966,20 euros.
Depending on qualification and experience salary can be negotiated.
----------------------------------------------------
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