---------------------------------------------------- Subject: SMB Digest v08i29 SMB Digest August 5, 2008 Volume 08 Issue 29 ISSN 1086-6566 Editor: Ray Mejía ray(at)smb(dot)org *** IMPORTANT NOTICE *** Some submissions to the Digest are not being delivered. Until further notice please copy math-smbnet@list.auckland.ac.nz to insure receipt. If you have sent an announcement recently, and it has not appeared in the Digest, please send it again and copy the address shown above. My apology for the inconvenience, 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/index.shtml . 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: NIH Director's Pioneer Award Symposium, September 22-23, NIH Predoctoral & Postdoctoral Positions: BioDynamics, Boston University PhD & Postdoctoral Positions: Systems Biology, Luxembourg Two Post-doctoral Opportunities: University of Alberta, Edmonton SMBnet Reminders ---------------------------------------------------- From: "Murcia, Ellie (NIH/OD) [E]" Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2008 11:06:08 -0400 Resent-From: Raymond Mejia Subject: NIH Director's Pioneer Award Symposium, September 22-23, NIH Fourth Annual NIH Director's Pioneer Award Symposium September 22-23, 2008 You are invited to attend the fourth annual NIH Director's Pioneer Award Symposium on September 22-23, 2008. The event will feature a keynote address by NIH Director Dr. Elias A. Zerhouni plus research talks by the 2007 Pioneer Award recipients (http://nihroadmap.nih.gov/pioneer/Recipients07.aspx), poster sessions by Pioneer and New Innovator Award recipients and members of their labs, roundtable discussions on highly innovative research, and announcement of the 2008 Pioneer awardees. The NIH Director's Pioneer and New Innovator Award programs--key components of the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research--support exceptionally creative scientists who take highly innovative, and potentially transformative, approaches to major challenges in biomedical or behavioral research. The symposium, in the Natcher Conference Center (Building 45) on the NIH campus, begins at 8:30 a.m. each day. An agenda is posted at http://nihroadmap.nih.gov/pioneer/symposium2008. Attendance is free and no registration is required. The event will also be videocast live and archived at http://videocast.nih.gov. The NIH Roadmap for Medical Research is a series of far-reaching initiatives designed to transform the nation's medical research capabilities and speed the movement of research discoveries from the bench to the bedside. It provides a framework of the priorities the NIH must address in order to optimize its entire research portfolio and lays out a vision for a more efficient and productive system of medical research. For more information about the NIH Roadmap, please visit the Web site at http://nihroadmap.nih.gov . The National Institutes of Health (NIH) - The Nation's Medical Research Agency - is comprised of 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary Federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov . ---------------------------------------------------- From: Joan Butler Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:49:01 -0400 Subject: Predoctoral & Postdoctoral Positions: BioDynamics, Boston University Postdoctoral and Predoctoral positions are available for "BioDynamics at Boston University", a Research and Training Grant funded by the NSF. The RTG group is associated with the Center for BioDynamics (CBD). The senior faculty members of this group are from Mathematics (U. Eden, E. Kolaczyk, N. Kopell (PI), T. Kaper, C. E. Wayne) and Biomedical Engineering (J. Collins, D. Segre, K. Sen). Research themes of the RTG focus on analysis of systems with multiple time-scales, applications of dynamical systems to neuroscience, and applications of dynamical systems to genetic regulatory networks. For information about collaborative activities of this group, please see cbd.bu.edu. Postdoctoral applications should be sent to: Joan Butler, Center for BioDynamics, 111 Cummington Street, Boston University, Boston MA 02215. Please include a CV and a cover letter stating the reasons you are appropriate for this group. Also have 3 letters of recommendation sent to the CBD. Applications will be reviewed starting from Dec. 1, 2008. Interested Ph.D candidates should apply to one of the associated departments and mention interest in the CBD and this RTG grant. Information about applications to the Math Dept. can be found at http://www.bu.edu/grs/academics/admissions/index.html. For the BME Dept. see http://www.bu.edu/eng/grad/apply. Applicants must be US citizens or resident aliens. Successful Postdoctoral candidates will teach one course per semester, including opportunities to design and/or teach new interdisciplinary curricula. For further possible positions associated with the CBD, please see http:/www.cbd.bu.edu. ---------------------------------------------------- From: Thomas Sauter Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:26:03 +0200 Subject: PhD & Postdoctoral Positions: Systems Biology, Luxembourg The University of Luxembourg has vacancies in its Faculty of Science, Technology and Communication for a Assistant- PhD student in Systems Biology / Life Sciences (3-years contract, renewable, starting October 2008 or later) Systems biological methods shall be used to investigate the systemic properties of inflammatory signalling networks in mammalian cells. Therefore a Boolean (logical) model of inflammatory signal transduction pathways shall be developed to predict and verify experimental data, to examine the structure and hierarchy of the networks and to analyze the relevance of the contained components. See also: http://www.isr.uni-stuttgart.de/~sauter/OpenPosition_PhD_0708.pdf and for a Post Doc in Systems Biology / Life Sciences (3-years contract, renewable, starting October 2008 or later) Within systems biology detailed mathematical (ODE) models based on molecular interactions are widely used to analyze mammalian signalling networks. Global sensitivity methods (variance based) shall be implemented and applied to analyze the pro- and anti-apoptotic signalling in mammalian cells. This will help to identify the hub proteins within this network which will be promising targets for pharmaceutical strategies. See also: http://www.isr.uni-stuttgart.de/~sauter/OpenPosition_PostDoc_0708.pdf For further information, please contact: Thomas Sauter University of Luxembourg Tel: +49 711 6856 6611 Email: thomas.sauter@uni.lu Url : http://www.isys.uni-stuttgart.de/~sauter/ Interested candidates are asked to send their full application (letter of motivation, detailed CV, copies of diploma, photo) until September 30th, 2008 by e-mail to thomas.sauter@uni.lu . ---------------------------------------------------- From: Cecilia Hutchinson Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 14:46:49 -0600 Subject: Two Post-doctoral Opportunities: University of Alberta, Edmonton Two post-doctoral opportunities with the University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB 1. Post-doctoral position modelling spatial ecology of streams Applications are sought from outstanding researchers for a two-year postdoctoral position modelling the spatial ecology of streams. The position involves development of mechanistic, process-oriented models for stream hydrology and biological interactions. The goal is to understand in-stream flow needs for healthy ecosystems. Duties involve developing mathematical and computational models and relating them to field data collected from rivers and streams in Alberta. The position includes collaboration with a team of biologists, engineers, and government scientists. It will be under the supervision of Mark Lewis, Canada Research Chair in Mathematical Biology, University of Alberta. Lewis website: www.math.ualberta.ca/~mlewis. To apply, send a current CV and a statement of research interest to Mark Lewis via email: mlewis@math.ualberta.ca with a cc to Cecilia Hutchinson ceciliah@math.ualberta.ca . Please include the names of two-three potential referees, but do not solicit reference letters at this stage. Review of the applications will start on August 1, 2008 and will continue until the position is filled. 2. Post-doctoral opportunity in "Mathematical Modeling of Insect Invasion Dynamics, as informed by Pathosystem Genomics Data" Context: Insect invasions are characterized by systematic changes in population numbers over time and space as insects reproduce and disperse into new host territory. The mountain pine beetle in North America is a system where an indigenous species has recently increased its range to the point of threatening novel host species. Although the population dynamics of the natural system within its previous host range (British Columbia, W. of the Rocky Mountains) is relatively well-researched, there is tremendous uncertainty within the new host range (Alberta, E. of the Rocky Mountains) on key parameters, including beetle dispersal rates, host suitability, host vigor, and fungal pathogenicity. A significant interdisciplinary project (THE TRIA PROJECT. Mountain Pine Beetle System Genomics) has been mounted to examine the population genetics and functional genomics of the beetle-fungus-tree interaction, in order to characterize the uncertainty surrounding key population processes affecting outbreak wave propagation eastward. The project is seeking a qualified mathematician to work with its team of scientists to develop a mathematical model of mountain pine beetle invasion biology that will use genomics-based data to inform the spread model. These data include population genetic structure data (for the beetle, fungus, and tree) and functional genomics data (genome-wide responses to environmental stresses) pertaining to critical aspects of the beetle-fungus-host interaction. The incumbent will have a PhD in mathematics and/or biology with demonstrated experience in the development of analytical mathematical models of epidemiological processes, and a familiarity with simulation modeling approaches. A strong interest in the use of population genetics and functional genomics data is essential. Familiarity and interest in the problems of error propagation, uncertainty analysis, stochasticity, and non-stationarity in complex (i.e. nonlinear, multi-causal) systems is desirable. The incumbent will be expected to work within a loosely defined team framework, to complement the activities of two other modeling groups (one pursing a process-oriented simulation approach, and the other a statistical approach). However there is substantial freedom to define the methods and deliverables according to the experiences, talents, and interests of the incumbent. The incumbent will split their residence between the Northern Forestry Centre and the University of Alberta, both in Edmonton, Alberta. The position will be co-supervised by Dr. Barry Cooke (Canadian Forest Service) and Dr. Mark Lewis (Canada Research Chair in Mathematical Biology, U. Alberta). Particulars: This position is funded until Dec 31, 2009 with a possibility of extension. Interested individuals should submit an application package (cover letter and curriculum vitae) and arrange to have three sealed letters of reference forwarded to the address below. Electronic applications are preferred. Salary is commensurate with experience. Matt Bryman Project Manager - THE TRIA PROJECT. Mountain Pine Beetle System Genomics CW 420 Biological Sciences Building University of Alberta Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2E9 mbryman@ualberta.ca Informal enquiries are encouraged and should be addressed to either Dr. Cooke (bcooke@NRCan.gc.ca) or Dr. Lewis (mlewis@math.ualberta.ca) ---------------------------------------------------- Subject: SMBnet Reminders To subscribe to the SMB Digest please point your browser at http://list.auckland.ac.nz/mailman/listinfo/math-smbnet and complete the subscription information. Alternatively, if you prefer to simply receive notice when the next issue is available, send mail to LISTSERV@listserv.biu.ac.il with "subscribe SMBnet Your Name" 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 may be sent to SMBnet(at)smb(dot)org with a copy to math-smbnet@list.auckland.ac.nz . 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 **************************************************** ----------------------------------------------------