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Subject: SMB Digest v13i31
SMB Digest July 30 2013 Volume 13 Issue 31
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,
http://www.smb.org/ .
Access the Bulletin of Mathematical Biology, the official journal of
SMB, at http://www.springer.com/11538 .
Inquiries about membership or BMB fulfillment should be sent to
membership(at)smb(dot)org .
Issue's Topics:
Program: ICERM Propose a Program, Brown U
CfP: Vision & the Statistics of the Natural..., Vision Research
PhD Position: Mathematical Biology, U Dundee
PhD Position: Pharmacometrics/Modelling, PharMetrX, Germany
Post-doc: Biomechanics of Plants, U Dundee
Post-doc: Mathematical Biology, U Dundee
Post-docs: RTG in Mathematical Biology, U Utah
Post-docs: Sensorimotor Theory, Paris
SMBnet Reminders
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From: McDaniel, Emily <emily_mcdaniel@icerm.brown.edu>
Date: July 26, 2013 11:49:04 AM
Subject: Program: ICERM Propose a Program, Brown U
The Institute for Computational and Experimental Research in Mathematics
invites semester, workshop and early career researcher program proposals
that support its mission to foster and broaden the relationship between
mathematics and computation. For more details go to:
http://icerm.brown.edu/get_involved
----------------------------------------------------
From: Jonathan D. Victor <jdvicto@med.cornell.edu>
Date: July 25, 2013 2:37:00 AM
Subject: CfP: Vision & the Statistics of the Natural..., Vision Research
Call for Papers: Vision and the Statistics of the Natural Environment
(A Special Issue of Vision Research)
Editors: James H. Elder, Jonathan D. Victor, Steven W. Zucker
Understanding the statistics of the natural visual environment is both
important and challenging: important because the visual environment sets
the context and constraints for visual processing, challenging because
of the nonlinear, high-dimensional and multifactorial nature of visual
inference. Meeting this challenge involves both theoretical
(model-driven) and empirical approaches. Relating environmental
statistics to visual function must draw on synergistic anatomical,
physiological and behavioral methodologies. Perhaps because of its
multidisciplinary nature, there is no single resource that collects
cutting edge work in this rapidly developing field.
For these reasons, the Editorial Board of Vision Research plans a
special issue entitled "Vision and the Statistics of the Natural
Environment." The scope of the issue is intended to be broad,
including papers focused on theory and computation (e.g., generative
models, dimensionality reduction methods, and theoretical limits),
papers reporting empirical statistical studies (e.g., of spatial,
spatiotemporal, three-dimensional, or chromatic aspects of the
environment), papers addressing the impact of natural image statistics
on visual system anatomy and function (e.g., eye movements, neural
coding, inference and learning), and papers presenting new
methodological approaches (e.g., for measuring image statistics, or for
using responses to natural stimuli to build models of neural
transformations).
The special issue is open both to primary research papers and to focused
reviews, and the above topics are examples, not an exclusive list.
Prospective authors are encouraged to contact one of the editors
(jelder@yorku.ca, jdvicto@med.cornell.edu, steven.zucker@yale.edu) prior
to preparing a submission.
The deadline for receiving these papers is April 1, 2014, with a plan
for publication by January 1, 2015. To submit to the Special Issue
visit http://ees.elsevier.com/vr/ and select the Special Issue on Vision
and the Statistics of the Natural Environment (short title for internal
use, "Environmental Statistics") when submitting your paper.
----------------------------------------------------
From: Raluca Eftimie <reftimie@maths.dundee.ac.uk>
Date: July 25, 2013 9:22:15 AM
Subject: PhD Position: Mathematical Biology, U Dundee
PhD studentship: Mathematical Modelling of Macrophages and their Impact
on Cancer Therapies
A PhD studentship (3.5 years) is available in Mathematical biology, in
the Division of Mathematics At University of Dundee. The Division of
Mathematics has a long-standing history of research excellence and
interdisciplinary collaboration with researchers in the College of Life
Sciences and clinicians at Ninewells Hospital. The successful candidate
will join 16 other students who are currently doing a PhD in Applied
Mathematics. To be considered for these studentships, the candidates
will have to have at least a 2:1 honours degree in Mathematics (or in a
cognate discipline, i.e., Physics, Engineering). Because of EPSRC
restrictions, the full studentship will be available only to UK
residents. (For complete information on students eligibility, please
consult the EPSRC website
http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/skills/students/help/Pages/eligibility.aspx).
Project description:
Macrophages are a very important component of host immunity, playing a
critical role in inflammation and defense. In the context of cancer
development, it has been shown that these immune cells can represent up
to 50% of the solid tumor mass. For a long time, it was considered that
macrophages in and around tumors were associated with good cancer
prognosis. However, over the past 10-15 years, it has been shown that
macrophages promote also tumor progression and improve tumor's
resistance to chemotherapy and other therapies. This PhD project will
focus on the investigation of interactions among tumor cells,
macrophages (which can have both pro-tumor and anti-tumor effects) and
tumor chemotherapies. In particular, the project will involve the
development and analysis of mathematical models (ODEs and PDEs) that
investigate the temporal and spatial interactions between tumor cells,
two types of macrophages (M1 and M2) and chemotherapeutic drugs.
The application deadline for this project is August 18, 2013. The
proposed start date for the studentship is October 1st, 2013.
Informal enquiries and applications (CV detailing the undergraduate
courses taken and the grades obtained, as well as a Letter of
Motivation/Personal Statement) should be emailed to Dr. Raluca Eftimie
(reftimie@maths.dundee.ac.uk).
Formal applications should also be made through
http://www.dundee.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/interests/mathematics.htm
The University of Dundee is a Scottish Registered Charity, No. SC015096.
----------------------------------------------------
From: Cornelia Böhnstedt <cornelia.boehnstedt@fu-berlin.de>
Date: July 26, 2013 6:49:29 AM
Subject: PhD Position: Pharmacometrics/Modelling, 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 2014. Deadline for applications: September 16th, 2013.
For details see https://www.PharMetrX.de.
PharMetrX is a joint program of the Freie Universitaet Berlin and the
Universitaet Potsdam, supported by several research-driven
pharmaceutical companies.
Charlotte Kloft & Wilhelm Huisinga
Program Chairs
----------------------------------------------------
From: Mariya Ptashnyk <mptashnyk@maths.dundee.ac.uk>
Date: July 25, 2013 9:03:00 AM
Subject: Post-doc: Biomechanics of Plants, U Dundee
Post-Doctoral position in Mathematics/Mathematical Biology
Biomechanics of plants: Multiscale modelling and analysis of the
mechanical properties of plant cell walls and tissues
The mechanical properties and growth of plant tissues are strongly
determined by the structure of the cell wall and the adhesion between
the cells. The primary wall of a plant cell consists mainly of oriented
cellulose microfibrils (MF), pectins, hemicellulose, structural proteins
and water. The main force for cell elongation (the internal turgor
pressure) acts isotropically, and so it is the microscopic structure of
the cell wall, surrounding each plant cell, that controls the
anisotropic growth of plant cells and tissue. The orientation of MF,
their length, high tensile strength and interaction with wall matrix
macromolecules (e.g. pectin, hemicellulose) strongly influences the wall
stiffness.
The main focus of the research project will be on the multiscale
modelling and analysis of the elastic deformation of both plant cell
walls and tissues. A microscopic model on the scale of cell wall
cellulose microfibrils will allow us to consider non-homogeneous
distributions of cell wall structural elements and the biochemical
interactions between them, as well as changes in the microstructure in
response to internal and external stimuli. The project will also involve
numerical simulations and rigorous multiscale analysis of the developed
models. The multiscale approach and the numerical analysis of the
macroscopic model will enable us to identify the influence of
microscopic molecular interactions on the macroscopic mechanical
behaviour and help to illuminate the mechanisms responsible for changes
in the microscopic properties of plant cell walls and tissues in
response to mechanical forces.
The theoretical research will be conducted in collaboration with
experimental biologists at the James Hutton Institute, UK and the Centre
for Organismal Studies, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
The successful candidate will have a PhD in Mathematics (analysis,
mathematical modelling, and/or numerical analysis) and an interest in
the interface between mathematics and biology and will form part of the
team investigating the fascinating mechanical properties of plant cells
and tissues. The appointment is for a period of 13?17 months with a
starting salary in the range 23,633?29,541 pounds. The position is
available from February 1st 2014.
If you are interested in this Post-Doctoral position please contact
Mariya Ptashnyk, Division of Mathematics, University of Dundee
mptashnyk@maths.dundee.ac.uk or
http://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/AGV738/post-doctoral-position-in-mathematics-mathematical-biology/
----------------------------------------------------
From: Raluca Eftimie <reftimie@maths.dundee.ac.uk>
Date: July 25, 2013 10:15:34 AM
Subject: Post-doc: Mathematical Biology, U Dundee
Postdoctoral Fellowship: Mathematical investigation into the role of
cell-cell communication pathways on collective cell migration
A postdoctoral fellowship (17 months) is available in the Division of
Mathematics, at University of Dundee, under the guidance of Dr. Raluca
Eftimie.
The successful candidate is expected to work in an interdisciplinary
environment and interact directly with Professor Kees Weijer (College of
Life Sciences). Moreover, the successful candidate will have a PhD in
Mathematics or cognate disciplines (e.g., Physics, Engineering).
Knowledge of mathematical modelling, numerical analysis (theory and
numerical simulations) and bifurcation theory is an asset.
The position is associated with a Grade 7 salary scale (29,541-36,298
pounds).
Project Description:
Despite recent advances in identifying the communication mechanisms
involved in individual cell movement, there are still many open
questions regarding the mechanisms involved in collective cell movement,
and how these mechanisms influence the movement of various cell types.
To formulate hypotheses that could help address these questions, the
postdoctoral fellow will derive a class of mathematical models that
describe cells movement and cell-cell interactions via different
communication mechanisms. Using mathematical techniques such as
travelling wave theory and bifurcation theory, the postdoctoral fellow
will determine the role of various cell-cell communication mechanisms on
the movement and structure of cell aggregations.
The application deadline is September 1, 2013. The proposed start date
is November 1st, 2013 (although it can be delayed a few months if
necessary).
Informal enquiries and applications (CV, Publication List and Letter of
Motivation) should be emailed to Dr. Raluca Eftimie
(reftimie@maths.dundee.ac.uk).
The University of Dundee is a Scottish Registered Charity, No. SC015096.
----------------------------------------------------
From: Gail Howick <howick@math.utah.edu>
Date: July 25, 2013 4:22:34 PM
Subject: Post-docs: RTG in Mathematical Biology, U Utah
The RTG Program (Research Training Group in Mathematical Biology) at
the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah, has up to three,
three-year postdoctoral fellow positions available. These fellows will
have received a PhD in Mathematics or a related field with substantial
applied mathematical content. They will work in some area of
Mathematical Biology with a Mathematics Department mentor and a Life
Science mentor and participate in one of the math biology research
groups.
The appointment has a two-course teaching load per year, along with
other mentoring activities with graduate and undergraduate students in
the Math Biology program. RTG postdoctoral positions are available only
to US citizens and permanent residents.
Application for these postdoctoral positions should be made to the
University of Utah Mathematics Department (see
www.math.utah.edu/positions). A statement of intent and interest in
Mathematical Biology and enthusiastic willingness to engage in
interdisciplinary study and research is required of all applicants. It
is helpful, but not required, that applicants identify one of the
program areas (Biofluids, Ecology, Epidemiology, Immunology,
Neuroscience, or Physiology) as their preferred area of research
emphasis.
----------------------------------------------------
From: J. Kevin O'Regan <jkevin.oregan@gmail.com>
Date: July 26, 2013 10:20:25 AM
Subject: Post-docs: Sensorimotor Theory, Paris
Several Postdoc positions in mathematical modelling, perceptual
psychophysics, developmental psychology/developmental robotics and
philosophy, are available from September 2013 to work within Kevin
O'Regan's ERC Advanced project ?FEEL? on the sensorimotor approach to
consciousness (http://lpp.psycho.univ-paris5.fr/feel/). By examining the
laws linking motor output to sensory input, the sensorimotor theory
attempts to account for the perceived quality of sensory experiences
(e.g. the perceived quality of colors, the differences between different
sense modalities, the way an agent -- infant or robot -- can learn the
structure of its body and how to use a tool). K. O?Regan is seeking
candidates to undertake the work planned in each of the five
workpackages of the project (cf.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/869531/ERC-FEEL.pdf):
WP1 (Philosophy), WP2 (Formal sensorimotor theory),
WP2 (Color psychophysics), WP4 (Sensory Substitution) and
WP5 (Development of feel in infants and robots). The work is to be
conducted at the Laboratoire Psychologie de la Perception
(http://lpp.psycho.univ-paris5.fr) in central Paris. French language is
not a requirement. Appointments will be for one year, renewable once,
starting as soon as possible or until the positions are filled. Net
salary is determined by French university standards and experience.
Please send CV?s and short letters of interest for proposed workpackage
and specifying availability to <erc.feel.hiring@gmail.com> before 1
September 2013.
----------------------------------------------------
Subject: SMBnet Reminders
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