---------------------------------------------------- Subject: SMB Digest v08i02 SMB Digest January 15, 2008 Volume 08 Issue 2 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: New PIMS Fellowships in Mathematical Biology: Deadline 31 Jan, 2008 Introduction to Infectious Disease Modelling and its Applications Call for Papers: Patterns and Waves in Ecology & Evolution Computational and Systems Biology Course at CoSBi, 10-14 March Social Learning Strategies Tournament Postdoc Position: Mathematical Modeling (Kidney Function), Duke Post-Doctoral Associate: University of Pittsburgh RTG Postdoctoral Position: Mathematics, Critical Care Medicine, U Pitt Professor or Reader: Applied Mathematics, University of Bath SMBnet Reminders ---------------------------------------------------- From: Mark Lewis Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2008 07:37:49 -0700 Subject: New PIMS Fellowships in Mathematical Biology: Deadline 31 Jan, 2008 New PIMS Fellowships in Mathematical Biology: Deadline 31 Jan, 2008 Announcing the newly launched PIMS (Pacific Institute for Mathematical Sciences) International Graduate Training Centre (IGTC) in Mathematical Biology. The purpose of this Centre is to train interdisciplinary mathematical biology graduate students. To assist with this training, there are fully funded fellowships available for graduate students working at the interface of Biology and Mathematical and Statistical Sciences. We encourage early applications for these fellowships (by 31 Jan, 2008). IGTC fellowships are awarded to graduate students at Canadian PIMS member universities (the University of Alberta, the University of British Columbia, the University of Calgary, Simon Fraser University, and the University of Victoria) or a PIMS affiliate university (the University of Lethbridge, and the University of Regina). Incoming and current students are eligible to apply. For detailed information about the programme please view: http://pims.math.ca/igtc/math_biology/ Queries can be directed to the Educational Coordinator, igtcmathbio@math.ualberta.ca or to the Programme Director, Mark Lewis mlewis@math.ualberta.ca . ---------------------------------------------------- From: Emilia Vynnycky Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2008 18:24:16 -0000 Subject: Introduction to Infectious Disease Modelling and its Applications Dear listmembers Please forward the following advert about the shortcourse "An Introduction to Infectious Disease Modelling and its Applications"; to anyone who may be interested. "INTRODUCTION TO INFECTIOUS DISEASE MODELLING AND ITS APPLICATIONS" organized jointly between the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and the Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections, UK Venue: London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Course dates: 14-25th July 2008 Summary: Mathematical modelling is increasingly being applied to interpret and predict the dynamics and control of infectious diseases. Applications include predicting the impact of vaccination strategies against infections and determining optimal control strategies against influenza, HIV, vector-borne diseases and veterinary problems. This two week intensive course is intended to introduce professionals working on infectious diseases in human or animal populations to this exciting and expanding area. The emphasis will be on developing a conceptual understanding of the basic methods and on their practical application, rather than the manipulation of mathematical equations. 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 50 Bedford Square London, WC1B 3DP UK email: shortcourses@lshtm.ac.uk Further details about the course content are available at http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/prospectus/short/siidma.html or contact one of the course organizers: Emilia Vynnycky or Richard White e-mail: emilia.vynnycky@lshtm.ac.uk or emilia.vynnycky@hpa.org.uk or richard.white@lshtm.ac.uk ---------------------------------------------------- From: "Petrovskiy, Dr S." Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2008 17:50:01 -0000 Subject: Call for Papers: Patterns and Waves in Ecology & Evolution Patterns and Waves in Ecology & Evolution -- a call for papers Mathematical Modelling of Natural Phenomena, a new international journal, publishes a series of thematical issues with a special accent on applications of mathematics to life science in general and to ecology and evolution in particular. After an apparent success of a recent special issue of MMNP "Patterns and Waves in Ecology & Evolution," we are now planning to have a second issue along the same generic baseline. It is a journal policy that publication in thematic issues are normally by invitation but we may have a place also for a few contributed papers. Those who might be interested please contact either Vitaly Volpert (Chief Editor) at volpert@math.univ-lyon1.fr , or Sergei Petrovskii (Associate Editor) at sp237@le.ac.uk . All papers are peer-reviewed. For more details about the journal, please visit either http://bsmc.insa-lyon.fr/~M3B/fr/journal.php or http://www.ripublication.com/mmnp.htm. ---------------------------------------------------- From: Attila Csikasz-Nagy Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 10:33:34 +0100 Subject: Computational and Systems Biology Course at CoSBi, 10-14 March Few more places are still open! Computational and Systems Biology Course at CoSBi Dates: 10-14 March, 2008 Place: CoSBi, Trento, Italy The Microsoft Research - University of Trento Centre for Computational and Systems Biology (CoSBi) organizes a course for PhD students, advanced master students and early stage postdocs on methods and recent results on different aspects of computational and systems biology. Applications are accepted at http://www.cosbi.eu/events/course08.php with poster abstracts until 5th February 2008. Registration fee with housing: 550 Euros, without housing: 470 Euros. Confirmed lecturers: Gabor Balazsi - University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Attila Becskei - University of Zürich Stefan Bornholdt - University of Bremen Luca Cardelli - Microsoft Research Cambridge Matteo Cavaliere - CoSBi Attila Csikasz-Nagy - CoSBi Albert Goldbeter - Université Libre de Bruxelles Lars Juhl Jensen - EMBL Csaba Pal - Biological Research Center Hungary Sven Panke - ETH Zürich Corrado Priami - CoSBi Guy Shinar - Weizmann Institute of Science, Uri Alon's Group Victor Sourjik - Zentrum für Molekulare Biologie der Universität Heidelberg Orkun Soyer - CoSBi Jacky Snoep - University of Stellenbosch Additional information: Attila Csikasz-Nagy email: csikasz(at)cosbi(dot)eu ---------------------------------------------------- From: Luke Rendell Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2008 12:37:13 -0000 Subject: Social Learning Strategies Tournament Dear Mathematical Biologists, This email is to provide information about a tournament that might be of interest to mathematical biologists. The tournament has a cash prize of 10,000 euro: We have received funding from the European Commission to organize a major international multi-disciplinary tournament on the evolution of social learning, inspired by Robert Axelrod's famous Prisoner's Dilemma tournaments on the evolution of cooperation. In recent years there has been a lot of interest (spanning several research fields, but especially economics, anthropology, and biology) in the problem of how best to acquire valuable information from others. Mathematical and computational solutions to this problem are starting to emerge, often using game-theoretical approaches. We feel the time is right for such a tournament, a sentiment shared by leading researchers in the field who are enthusiastic about this project. We have set up a committee of world-leading scientists as experts to help us design the tournament (Rob Boyd, Marc Feldman, Magnus Enquist, Kimmo Erikkson) and other leading authorities in this area of science, including Axelrod, have been advising us. In the competition, entrants will submit behavioural strategies detailing how to respond to the problem of resource gain in a complex, variable environment in terms of combinations of individual and social learning. Where social learning is involved, entrants will be required to specify effective rules (e.g. conform, imitate the most successful individual, copy in proportion to each demonstrator's payoff, copy when dissatisfied, etc). Entered strategies will be evaluated in two stages, with good performers in pair-wise contests going forward to an all-against-all melee. The author(s) of the strategy that performs best overall will be presented with a cash prize of 10,000 euros at the European Human Behaviour and Evolution Society meeting, in St. Andrews, U.K. in April 2009. The competition is now running, and has a closing date of June 30 2008 and active website: http://www.intercult.su.se/cultaptation/tournament.php. On behalf of ourselves and the committee we would like to encourage you, the members of your laboratories, and your colleagues and collaborators, to participate in this competition. Please forward this message to anyone you think might be interested. We hope that the social learning strategies tournament will increase understanding of, and stimulate research on, the evolution of learning, as Axelrod's tournament did for the evolution of cooperation. Luke Rendell Kevin N. Laland University of St Andrews ---------------------------------------------------- From: Anita T. Layton Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 09:54:56 -0500 (EST) Subject: Postdoc Position: Mathematical Modeling (Kidney Function), Duke Applications are solicited for a postdoctoral position in mathematical biology that involves modeling various aspects of kidney function, and teaching one course per year. A Ph.D. in mathematics (or a related quantitative field) and proficiency in computer programming and scientific computing are required; experience in mathematical modeling is desirable. The initial appointment is for two calendar years beginning June 1 (negotiable); it may be renewable. Please submit an AMS standard coversheet, a curriculum vita, a description of current and completed research (1-3 pages), and four letters of recommendation, one of which evaluates teaching skills. The AMS Standard Cover Sheet should be completed online at www.mathjobs.org/jobs/duke/. Applicants are encouraged to submit other materials electronically at this site; they may also mail them to: Prof. Anita Layton Department of Mathematics Box 90320 Duke University Durham, NC 27708-0320 Duke University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. ---------------------------------------------------- From: Jonathan Rubin Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 16:09:04 -0500 (EST) Subject: Post-Doctoral Associate: University of Pittsburgh RTG RTG Post-Doctoral Associate (www.math.pitt.edu/~cbsg -- coming soon!) The Department of Mathematics at the University of Pittsburgh invites applications for postdoctoral appointment starting the Fall Term 2008 subject to final funding approval. The appointment is renewable annually to a maximum of three years. The position will likely be funded jointly by the University of Pittsburgh and a new NSF Research Training Group (RTG) grant on Complex Biological Systems across multiple space and time scales. The research areas covered by the RTG include (i) the development and analysis of mathematical models and computational algorithms for solving spatio-temporal problems arising in biology and (ii) the applications of these and other methods to problems arising in inflammation and neuroscience. To be successful, a candidate must demonstrate excellence in research, and must also have strong commitment to excellence in teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Candidates should be willing to work closely with experimentalists and clinicians. All applications must include the following: (1) a curriculum vita, (2) a personal statement addressing their research agenda, (3) a statement of teaching philosophy, (4) a completed AMS Standard Cover Sheet form and (5) at least three letters of recommendation. Applications should be submitted electronically through http://www.mathjobs.org. If the candidate is unable to submit electronically, materials may be sent to: Postdoctoral Search Committee in Complex Biological Systems, Department of Mathematics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260. Review of completed files will begin on January 10, 2008 and continue until the position is filled. The University of Pittsburgh is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and members of minority groups under-represented in academia are especially encouraged to apply. NSF restrictions require that eligible candidates must be US citizens or permanent residents. ---------------------------------------------------- From: David Swigon Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2008 10:15:39 -0500 Subject: Postdoctoral Position: Mathematics, Critical Care Medicine, U Pitt The Centre for Inflammation and Regenerative Modeling and the Departments of Mathematics and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh are seeking applications for a two-year post-doctoral position. Specific research topics include modeling of immune response to influenza virus infection and pulmonary inflammation modeling. The successful candidate will operate in a truly interdisciplinary environment in an established and successful mathematical biology group. A strong background in dynamical systems modeling, an interest in data assimilation, and significant expertise in computational implementation of optimization algorithms including Monte Carlo techniques in a grid environment would constitute strong assets. Minority and female applicants are encouraged. Salary and fringe benefits are very competitive. Please direct enquiries to: Bard Ermentrout or David Swigon, Department of Mathematics University of Pittsburgh bard@math.pitt.edu swigon@pitt.edu Gilles Clermont, MD Department of Critical Care Medicine Medical Director, Center for Inflammatory and Regenerative Modeling University of Pittsburgh clermontg@upmc.edu ---------------------------------------------------- From: N F Britton Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2008 14:07:12 +0000 (GMT) Subject: Professor or Reader: Applied Mathematics, University of Bath UNIVERSITY OF BATH DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES PROFESSOR OR READER IN APPLIED MATHEMATICS Applicants for this newly established senior post in Applied Mathematics at the University of Bath should have an international track record of research excellence. We seek applications in any area that resonates with existing departmental research strengths in Applied Mathematics, which include Mathematical Biology. The closing date for applications is 28 February 2008. Further particulars are available from the University of Bath website, at http://www.bath.ac.uk/jobs/job_desc.cgi?07H458A. Informal enquiries are welcome. For Mathematical Biology in particular, they may be made to Professor Nick Britton, n.f.britton@bath.ac.uk. ---------------------------------------------------- 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 use e-mail, send mail to LISTSERV@listserv.biu.ac.il with "subscribe SMBnet Your Name" in the body of the mail (omit the quotes). 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 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 **************************************************** ----------------------------------------------------