Bi-Monthly News from NIMBioS September-October 2018

New Faces at NIMBioS: Targeted Postdocs

Targeted Postdoctoral Fellowships provide support for specific research questions on projects directed by UT faculty. Current projects are modeling epidemiology and evolutionary game theory; spatial biology; and species distribution modeling. One position in biological systems modeling remains open. Meet Jing Jiao whose project focuses on predicting the evolution of vector-borne disease dynamics in a changing world.

Quantitative Skills Curriculum Wins Funding

A unique program developed by NIMBioS to bring quantitative education to graduate students in the life sciences has been awarded funding from the  Burroughs Wellcome Fund , one of only three awards to be made nationally. The curriculum prioritizes current research topics suggested by biology faculty as a focal point for teaching PhD students in biomedical science.

Working Group Publishes Results in Science

A new paper published in  Science  by the NIMBioS Working Group on Long Transients and Ecological Forecasting proposes a classification system for ecological dynamics that persist over long time scales. Using dynamical systems theory, the classification scheme categorizes mechanisms underlying transients. The systematic framework links empirical observations to simple prototypical models and could be useful for ecosystem management.

Applying for a NSF Graduate Research Fellowship?

Application deadlines for NSF's Graduate Research Fellowships occur in late October. What does it take to write a successful application? NIMBioS has hosted two panels on tips for successful proposals featuring fellowship recipients. The program supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing master's and doctoral degrees. The panels were streamed live and recordings are now available!

Understanding Human Behavior, Social Complexity

Catch the live stream of world renowned researcher in evolutionary dynamics Sergey Gavrilets when he presents "Modeling the evolutionary origins and dynamics of social complexity," at 3:30 p.m. EDT Monday, Oct. 15. Gavrilets is the Director of the Center for the Dynamics of Social Complexity (DySoC) and NIMBioS Associate Director for Scientific Activities. The seminar is part of the DySoC/NIMBioS Seminar Series.

Research & Training Opportunities

Social Norms: Emergence, Persistence and Effects DySoC is accepting applications for its Investigative Workshop, "Social Norms: Emergence, Persistence, and Effects," to be held April 23-25, 2019, at NIMBioS. The workshop aims to stimulate new synergies, insights and collaborations.  Application deadline: December 1

Mathematics of Gun Violence Applications are now being accepted for the NIMBioS/DySoC Investigative Workshop: Mathematics of Gun Violence , to be held May 1-3, 2019, at NIMBioS.This workshop will bring together researchers from diverse disciplinary backgrounds to examine and enhance the quantitative science of gun violence.   Application deadline: November 30

Transients in Biological Systems Applications are now being accepted for the NIMBioS Investigative Workshop: Transients in Biological Systems , to be held May 29-31, 2019, at NIMBioS. The workshop aims to spur further research into transients, both from a mathematical standpoint and as a way to understand and analyze biological systems.  Application deadline: January 30

Coming Soon! Check back on our website for the following opportunities:

NIMBioS Tutorial: Network Analysis, Feb. 4-6, 2019 Scientific Collaboration Enabled by High Performance Computing Workshop, May 13-15, 2019 NIMBioS Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates, June 3-July 26, 2019

Selected Recent NIMBioS Publications

Chang CH, Drohan SE. 2018. Should I shoot or should I go? Simple rules for prey selection in multi-species hunting systems: Dietary thresholds to manage hunting. Ecological Applications. [from NIMBioS Postdoctoral Fellowship] Day JD et al. 2018. Inflammation and disease: Modelling and modulation of the inflammatory response to alleviate critical illness. Current Opinion in Systems Biology 12:22-29. [from NIMBioS Investigative Workshop: Lymphoid Cells in Acute Inflammation ] Hoban S, Kallow S, Trivedi C, 2018. Implementing a new approach to effective conservation of genetic diversity, with ash ( Fraxinus excelsior ) in the UK as a case study. Biological Conservation 225: 10-21. [from NIMBioS Postdoctoral Fellowship ] Ivanek R, Wiedmann M, Allende A, Suslow T, and Munther D. 2017. FSMA agricultural-water die-off compliance provisions benefit from condition-specific modifiers. The Center for Produce Safety, $400,000, Awarded. [from NIMBioS Investigative Workshop: Models of Produce Contamination] Pantha B, Cross A, Day J, Lenhart S. 2018 Modeling the macrophage-anthrax spore interaction: Implications for early host-pathogen interactions. Mathematical Biosciences 305(2018) 18-28. [from NIMBioS Working Group: Modeling Low Dose Exposure to Inhalation Anthrax] Results produced from NIMBioS research activities are important in measuring our success. Please report your publications and other products resulting from NIMBioS activities. Learn how to acknowledge NIMBioS. For the complete list of NIMBioS products, click here .

NIMBioS is supported by the National Science Foundation through NSF Award #DBI-1300426, with additional support from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

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