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Subject: Society for Mathematical Biology Digest

SMB Digest  December 23, Volume 15  Issue 51
ISSN 1086-6566

Editor: Ray Mejía ray(at)smb(dot)org

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:
   SMB President's Message
   Editorial Transition:  The Bulletin of Mathematical Biology
   Call for Submissions: SMB Newsletter January Issue
   Call for Applications: 2016 NIMBioS Summer Research Program
   Conference: Fluid Mechanics and Collective Behavior, From Cells to ...
   Conference: Geometry, Topology and Complexity of Manifolds, ...
   Registration Open: The Mathematics of Life, 7-10 March, Helsinki
   Postdoc Opportunity: Computational Neuroscience and Neuroinformatics
   Postdoctoral Research Fellow: Massey University Auckland
   Postdoctoral Fellow: Ecological Modelling, RMIT University
   SMBnet Reminders


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From: Santiago Schnell <schnells@umich.edu>
Date: Mon, Dec 21, 2015 at 4:49 PM
Subject: SMB President's Message

Best wishes during this Holiday season! 

On behalf of the Society for Mathematical Biology (SMB), I would like to thank
you for your SMB Digest subscription. Your continued support and commitment
allows the Society to continue its mission of encouraging the development
and dissemination of knowledge in mathematical and computational biology,
your field of research.

We hope that you have enjoyed your SMB Digest subscription this year. If
you are not a member of the SMB, or if you haven't renewed your membership,
I would like to ask that you join or renew today. SMB membership fees
are among the lowest in scientific societies. To join online go to
http://smb.org/membership/application.shtml. To renew online go to
http://smb.org/membership/memberprofile.shtml. For more information,
email onlinemembership@smb.org.

Looking forward to 2016, we will continue to use your membership dues to
support SMB members wherever they are and we will continue to grow the
field of mathematical and computational biology. We recognize our society
would not exist without you.

Thank you again for supporting the SMB and our field!

With kind regards,

Santiago Schnell
President of the Society for Mathematical Biology


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From: Santiago Schnell <schnells@umich.edu>
Date: Mon, Dec 21, 2015 at 4:57 PM
Subject: Editorial Transition:  The Bulletin of Mathematical Biology

The Bulletin of Mathematical Biology, the official journal of the Society for
Mathematical Biology, has long been a premier venue for the dissemination
of research findings at the interface of mathematics and biology. Since
its founding, it has been a driver of the dramatic evolution that has
transformed and expanded the field of mathematical biology, as more phenomena
in the life sciences have become amenable to mathematical analysis and more
areas of mathematics have found applications in biology. Philip Maini,
FRS (University of Oxford), the current Editor-in-Chief of the Bulletin
of Mathematical Biology, deserves much of the credit for assuring that the
Bulletin is recognized as a scientific journal of the highest quality with
high impact on the field.

Beginning on January 1, 2016, Alan Hasting (University of California - Davis)
and Reinhard C. Laubenbacher (University of Connecticut Health Center) will
assume the role of Editors-in-Chief, when Philip Maini, conclude his 14th
year tenure at the helm of the Bulletin. We are very grateful for Philip
Maini's leadership and service. His shoes will be difficult to fill.

As times change, the nature of scientific publishing changes, and so does
the role that scientific journals play in the research enterprise. This is
particularly true in the field of mathematical biology, which is advancing
at breakneck speed, driven by technological innovations that provide data,
ever increasing in quantity and quality, which makes mathematics a key
enabling tool for much research in the life sciences. And so the Bulletin
must also continually adapt to these changes in order to remain a vibrant
leading outlet for publications in mathematical biology. Articles reporting
original research of scientific significance to the mathematical biology
community will remain its core focus. There are no restrictions on length
and format, and can range from biologically motivated investigations in the
mathematical sciences, broadly defined, to results that combine concepts and
tools from the mathematical sciences with experiment or observation. All
contributions, however, must be focused on a substantial advance in
biological understanding. The aim of the journal is to be of major interest
to all researchers working at the interface of biology and the mathematical
sciences, and articles should take care to address this broad audience.

Mathematical biology has become a multi-faceted and fast-moving field,
and researchers need to be cognizant of a plethora of new developments
and changes that affect their work, which are not always captured by the
original research article format. Therefore, the Bulletin will serve its
readers through several new kinds of articles.

- Reviews: These offer an in-depth treatment of an important topic,
emerging research area within mathematical biology, or significant recent
development, and provide an excellent guide for researchers new to a subject
or researchers established in the field who are looking for a new view of
their area. A review should not be a mere summary of a field; it should be
a critique with new points of view, synthesizing the existing literature
from a variety of authors.

- Methods: Mathematics is a key enabling technology for the life sciences. The
Bulletin will publish peer-reviewed articles that describe new mathematical,
statistical, or computational methods relevant to a range of biological
problems or processes, or new experimental methods that are substantially
based on tools or concepts from the mathematical sciences.

- Editors' Choice: Select articles, chosen by the Editors-in-Chief,
will be the subject of a shorter "Insight" article published in the same
issue. Insights are provided by experts in the field of the research article:
they explain why the reported results are significant and outline some of
the relevant challenges remaining in the field. These articles will be
commissioned by the Editors-in-Chief. Articles are peer-reviewed at the
discretion of the editors and will typically be one to four pages in length.

- Perspectives: This type of article will focus on a broad range of subjects
relevant to the field and its practitioners: science policy and research
funding, careers in mathematical biology, research conduct, public engagement,
and a variety of other related topics, including opinion pieces. These
articles will be peer-reviewed at the discretion of the editors or the
editorial board.

- Unsolved problems: These peer-reviewed articles will discuss a research
topic of importance to the mathematical biology community that is poorly
understood and is in need of attention. They can include unexplored or
challenging questions, emerging opportunities, or unexplained phenomena. These
articles are intended to stimulate researchers, including students, to
think about future research directions inside or outside their area of
expertise. They should be aimed at a broad audience, and should include a
discussion of why the problem is important, relevant background information,
and what work has been done toward solving the problem. Furthermore, this
discussion should also cover any competing hypotheses and major challenges
that exist, and if applicable, should also include commentary regarding
the advances that will be necessary to solve the problem.

- Education: Interdisciplinary training and education is particularly
challenging and of crucial importance for the future of mathematical biology.
The Bulletin will contribute to this effort by publishing articles that
discuss ideas, methods, tools, and activities to enhance research and
education, both inside and outside of the classroom. They can take several
forms, ranging from historical reviews to practical tutorials. Articles can
also provide practical knowledge and background information on important
mathematical or computational methods and approaches used to investigate
interesting biological problems.  These articles will be peer-reviewed.

By broadening the scope of the journal and providing flexible contribution
formats, we expect the Bulletin to remain an important resource for its
authors and readers, helping them move mathematical and quantitative
biology forward, as they meet ever more complex and exciting challenges
in the life sciences. The new Editors-in-Chief will strive to provide a
publication process that is author-friendly, and as speedy as possible, while
maintaining the highest scientific standards. The Bulletin of Mathematical
Biology will continue to evolve with the times, and the incoming editors,
Alan Hasting and Reinhard Laubenbacher, welcome input to ensure that the
journal serves the needs of the mathematical biology community.

We look forward to reading your papers published in the Bulletin in a
near future!

Santiago Schnell, President of the Society for Mathematical Biology
and
Alan Hasting and Reinhard Laubenbacher, incoming Editors-in-Chief of the
Bulletin of Mathematical Biology


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From: Amina Eladdadi <eladdadi@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Dec 22, 2015 at 9:41 AM
Subject: Call for Submissions: SMB Newsletter January Issue

We invite submissions from SMB members including summaries of previous
mathematical biology meetings, invitations to upcoming conferences,
commentaries, book reviews, or suggestions for other future columns.

The deadline for the January issue is January 10th.

The SMB Newsletter is published in January, May, and September by the
Society for Mathematical Biology for its members. The Society for
Mathematical Biology is an international society that promotes and
foster interactions between the mathematical and biological sciences
communities through membership, journal publications, travel support
and conferences. Please visit our website: http://www.smb.org for more
information.

Amina Eladdadi -
email: editor(at)smb(dot)org


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From: Catherine Crawley <ccrawley@nimbios.org>
Date: December 18, 2015 at 2:23:27 PM EST
Subject: Call for Applications: 2016 NIMBioS Summer Research Program

The National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS) is
now taking applications for its eight-week long Summer Research Experiences
for Undergraduates and Teachers (SRE). The program will be held June 6 - July
29, 2016, on the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, campus. Undergraduate
majors in biology, math, and related fields, as well as high school teachers
in biology and mathematics, will live on campus and work in teams with UT
professors, NIMBioS researchers, and collaborators to conduct research. This
year's research topics include human emotion modeling, spread of mice and
hantavirus, molecular dynamics simulations, organelle movements in plant
cells, and development of computer games for teaching biology. Stipend and
housing are provided along with some funding for travel.

Application Deadline: February 12, 2016

For more information and how to apply, go to
http://nimbios.org/sre/sre2016

For more information about NIMBioS, go to http://www.nimbios.org or
contact Kelly Sturner, NIMBioS Education and Outreach Coordinator, at
ksturner@nimbios.org or Suzanne Lenhart, NIMBioS Associate Director of
Education and Outreach, lenhart@math.utk.edu

Interested high or middle school math or science teachers should send an
email to Dr. Lenhart.


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From: Andreas Deutsch <andreas.deutsch@tu-dresden.de>
Date: Wed, Dec 16, 2015 at 10:43 AM
Subject: Conference: Fluid Mechanics and Collective Behavior, From Cells to ...

Dear Colleagues,

The Organizing Committee cordially invites you to attend the Congressi
Stefano Franscini (CSF) Conference and Workshop "Fluid Mechanics and
Collective Behavior: From Cells to Organisms" that will be held at the
Conference Centre Monte Verita in Ascona, Switzerland, April 3-7, 2016.

Fluids pervade biological systems ranging from fish schools to bacterial
colonies and nanoparticles for drug delivery. Is schooling the result of
vortex dynamics synthesized by fish wakes or that of behavioral traits? Do
blood cells affect nanoparticle transport? We address such questions to
identify common themes and differences that define collective behavior in
flow environments across scales.

Organizers:
Andreas Deutsch (TU Dresden, Germany)
Petros Koumoutsakos (ETH Zurich, Switzerland)
Guy Theraulaz (Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France)

Abstract submission deadline: January 26, 2016.

Further information, deadlines and application:
https://www.fmcb.ethz.ch/


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From: Peter Scott <pscott@umich.edu>
Date: Wed, Dec 16, 2015 at 11:52 AM
Subject: Conference: Geometry, Topology and Complexity of Manifolds, ...

Dear Colleagues,

This is the second announcement of the conference "Geometry, Topology and
Complexity of Manifolds, and applications to Biology" to be held May 20-22
(Friday through Sunday), 2016 at UC Berkeley. This conference will be in
honor of the 60th birthday of Joel Hass, UC Davis.

Some financial support may be available for travel and local expenses, with
graduate students, recent Ph.D.s, and underrepresented groups especially
encouraged to apply. Preference for financial support will go to those
registered by April 1.

Confirmed speakers include:
  Ian Agol, University of California, Berkeley.
  Nina Amenta, University of California, Davis.
  Dorothy Buck, Imperial College, England.
  Mike Freedman, Microsoft Research.(*)
  Patrice Koehl, Department of Computer Science Genome Center, University of
  California, Davis.
  Jeffrey Lagarias, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
  Nati Linial, Hebrew University, Israel.
  Frank Morgan, Williams College.
  Hyam Rubinstein, University of Melbourne, Australia.
  Peter Scott, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

For more details about the program, local accommodation and registration,
please refer to the conference web site at
https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/~tsvietkova/Joelfest.html

Please share this information with anyone who might be interested.

Sincerely,
The Organizing Committee:
David Hoffman, Rob Kirby, Jeff Lagarias, Max Neumann-Coto, Hyam Rubinstein,
Peter Scott, and Anastasiia Tsvietkova.


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From: Kisdi, Eva <eva.kisdi@helsinki.fi>
Date: Tue, Dec 22, 2015 at 4:16 AM
Subject: Registration Open: The Mathematics of Life, 7-10 March, Helsinki

Registration now open: The Mathematics of Life conference, 7-10 March 2016,
Helsinki

Dear Colleagues,

As previously announced, registration is now open for the conference "The
Mathematics of Life". The deadline for registration is 20 January 2016
(Wednesday), and the conference can accept a maximum of 80 participants.

The main focus of the conference will be on mathematical ecology and evolution
as well as stochastic processes, statistical learning, and inverse problems.
Taken together, the conference will cover a wide range of biomathematics
research and showcase its frontiers through invited lectures by many
outstanding researchers of the field. With this conference, we celebrate
the 60th birthday of Mats Gyllenberg.

The conference will take place in Helsinki, 7-10 March 2016. For more
information and registration, please see the conference website at
http://www.helsinki.fi/mathlife/.

Eva Kisdi
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
University of Helsinki


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From: Sharon Crook <Sharon.Crook@asu.edu>
Date: Wed, Dec 16, 2015 at 11:20 AM
Subject: Postdoc Opportunity: Computational Neuroscience and Neuroinformatics

ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer

Postdoctoral position in Computational Neuroscience and Neuroinformatics
(Job #11446)

We are soliciting applications for a postdoctoral position in the Laboratory
for Informatics and Computation in Open Neuroscience at Arizona State
University.  This laboratory, jointly supervised by Dr. Sharon Crook and
Dr. Rick Gerkin, focuses on developing resources for the community for
describing, validating and sharing computational models in neuroscience. In
addition, lab personnel conduct empirical and modeling studies in order to
investigate fundamental questions in neuroscience.

The successful candidate will contribute to the development and use of
tool chains for model validation and model exchange that revolve around
NeuronUnit and NeuroML. The postdoctoral researcher also will have the
opportunity to choose the direction of their own modeling studies.

Applicants must provide evidence of excellence in sustainable software
development, experience in applications in neuroscience, and should also be
highly independent, with a strong propensity for interdisciplinary research.
Candidates must hold a PhD in neuroscience, computer science, applied
mathematics, computational neuroscience or a related discipline by time
of appointment and be highly motivated and creative. Experience with some
combination of Python, XML, MySQL, Ruby on Rails, and NEURON is desirable.

Named the #1 Most Innovative University in the US, Arizona State University
offers an exciting research environment in a unique setting. ASU is located
in Tempe, Arizona, which offers many rich cultural and outdoor opportunities
with access to mountains and canyons visited by people from around the world.

All applications must be submitted online through mathjobs at
https://www.mathjobs.org/jobs/jobs/8375 and must include the following:
1) A detailed CV
2) Two recommendation letters
3) A statement of research interest

Any questions should be sent by email to Dr. Sharon Crook
(sharon.crook@asu.edu) and Dr. Rick Gerkin (rgerkin@asu.edu).

Initial review of applications will begin January 15, 2016; if not filled,
applications will be reviewed every two weeks thereafter until the search
is closed.

Arizona State University is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor and an Equal
Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants
will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, national
origin, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.
https://www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/acd/acd401.html https://www.asu.edu/titleIX/.


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From: Thomas Pfeiffer <pfeiffer.massey@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Dec 16, 2015 at 10:25 PM
Subject: Postdoctoral Research Fellow: Massey University Auckland

The Institute of Natural & Mathematical Sciences and The NZ Institute
of Advanced Study seek to appoint a Postdoctoral Research Fellow for the
research group of Prof. Thomas Pfeiffer.

In this appointment you will be expected to contribute to the group's research
activities in the modelling of metabolic systems and their evolution. You
will have a strong background in mathematical modelling, theoretical biology
or computational biology is of advantage, as is a track record in metabolic
modelling and the analysis of genomic data.

This position is for three years, requires a PhD qualification, and is
based at the Auckland campus. Please contact Prof. Thomas Pfeiffer for
further information (email: T.Pfeiffer@massey.ac.nz).

Closing date: 17 January 2016
Reference number: A403-15SF

For further information and to apply online, visit:
www.massey.ac.nz/joinus/
www.thomaspfeiffer.com


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From: lewi stone <lewistone100@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Dec 17, 2015 at 12:01 AM
Subject: Postdoctoral Fellow: Ecological Modelling, RMIT University

Dear Colleagues

We are looking for a postdoctoral fellow to work on an Australian Research
Council funded project that deals with ecological modelling. The project
will continue for 1.5 years with a possible extension depending on funding
availability. The applicant should have a good mathematics/statistics
background as well as a strong interest in ecology/biology.

The project is being run at RMIT University, led by PI's
  Lewi Stone, Yan Wang, Ascelin Gordon.
  External Principal Investigators: David Dowe, Monash University
  Robert Dorazio USGS, Andy Solow Woods Hole

Project Summary:
Identifying how species are distributed over the landscape, and how they
interact and self-organize into foodwebs, are central goals in Ecology.
This project will provide innovative new modelling tools to improve our
understanding of species distributions and their foodweb networks. Broadly
speaking, the successful candidate together with the PI's will be
developing a general framework for extending current species distribution
modelling frameworks to deal with multiple species, incorporating both their
interactions as well as surveillance errors in detection. We intend to use
spatial point process models, for which the candidate should preferably
have some background knowledge. 

This is a loose guideline, and there are also possibilities for pursuing
related research.


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Subject: SMBnet Reminders

To subscribe to the SMB Digest please point your browser at
    https://list.auckland.ac.nz/sympa/info/math-smbnet
and complete the subscription information.  Alternatively, if you prefer
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in the body of the mail (omit the quotes and include your name).
After you subscribe, you will receive a greeting with additional information.

Submissions to appear in the SMB Digest should be sent to
    SMBnet(at)smb(dot)org .

Items of interest to the mathematical biology community may be submitted
for inclusion in the SMBnet archive.  See instructions at
    http://smb.org/publications/SMBnet/pubs/fyi .

The SMB Digest is also available on the SMB Home Page at
    http://smb.org/publications/SMBnet/digest/ .

The contents of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part with
attribution.

End of SMB Digest
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