CSDE-news Bulletin

December 11, 2007

Archive
Submit News

CSDE WEEKLY SEMINAR: CSDE seminars will resume, Friday, January 8, 2008
CSDE ANNOUNCEMENTS: CSDE Holiday Schedule; Help Needed -- STF Proposal Endorsements
CSDE AFFILIATE & FELLOW NEWS: Katie Baird -- Fulbright Lecturer in Spain; Susan Cassels -- The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington; Benjamin Fitzhugh -- Kuril Islands Project in A&S Perspectives; Charles Keyes -- Retires; David Nolin -- Receives award for Best Student Paper at this year's AAA meetings; Adrian Raftery -- named a Fellow of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES: Life Sciences Discovery Fund offers 2008 grant opportunities
CALLS FOR PAPERS: 2008 American Sociological Association Annual Meeting
TRAINING & EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES: Post Doctoral Research Program -- Rand Populatiuon Studies and the Study of Aging; Fellowships -- The Switzer Fellowship Program; Post Doctoral Fellowships -- Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, U.C. Berkeley; Predissertation Research Awards -- Social Science Research Council
OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST: World Bank Publications Announcement

Submit News

CSDE WEEKLY SEMINAR

CSDE seminars will resume, Friday, January 8, 2008

CSDE ANNOUNCEMENTS

CSDE Holiday Schedule -- Dec 242 through Jan 4

Administration Core

Closed Dec 24-26, 31, Jan 1. Open 8 am to noon Dec 27, 28, Jan 2-4

Biodemography Core

The lab will be closed Dec 24-25, 31, Jan 1, but open as usual all other days

Computing Core

Matt: Out Dec 24th
Nathan: Out from Dec 24th through Jan 2nd
Erich: Out from Dec 24th through Jan 3rd

Dec 24th - Jan 6 "By appointment" Mon-Thurs 10am-4pm and via email at CSDE_Help@u.washington.edu

Information Core

David will be out Dec 28th and Jan 4th
Cynthia will be out Dec 24th throughDec 28th

Statistics Core

Open as usual

A&S Dean's Office

Closed Dec 24-25 and 31st, mornings 12/26-12/28 – Vicky will be in sporadically during these days.

Help Needed -- STF Proposal Endorsements

As you all know, many of CSDE's computing resources are funded by the UW Student Technology Fee Committee. We rely on the STF to keep software current, and to upgrade our computer and server hardware. This year, we have written two proposals based largely on ideas and comments submitted by CSDE students. The proposals deal with both the computer lab and the terminal servers.

Proposal #1: Student Computer Lab Upgrades
CSDE's STF-funded resources continue to be a resounding success. Currently, we operate a computer lab with 15 Windows workstations, a laser printer and a scanner. In order to maintain the usefulness of the computer lab, we would like to purchase all-new hardware and software for the lab.

Proposal #2: Student Terminal Server Expansion
CSDE offers a variety of resources for students' computing needs. Along with the student computer lab, which is STF-funded, we also offer remote computing via Windows Terminal Services. Due to our growing population of users, we are experiencing a shortage of server resources for student use. Specifically, we would like to augment our current terminal servers with a new quad-CPU system, additional file storage hardware, and a new tape backup autoloader.

We are currently collecting endorsement statements for these proposals to present to the STF committee. Please help us out by writing a few sentences about how each of our STF proposals will benefit you or your students, and send it via email to ncosgray@u.washington.edu. We'd appreciate it greatly, and your statements of support will be of immeasurable value to the STF committee as they review our proposals.

Please reply by December 17th

Here are the web URLs where you can read the full text of the proposals:
http://csde.washington.edu/~ncosgray/stf/2008-019.txt
http://csde.washington.edu/~ncosgray/stf/2008-020.txt

CSDE AFFILIATE & FELLOW NEWS

Katie Baird-- Fulbright Lecturer in Spain

Katie Baird, Associate Professor of Economics and CSDE Affiliate, has a Fulbright Lecturer in Economics at the Universidad del Pais Vaso, Bilbao Spain. The Fulbright is from January through June, 2008.

Susan Cassels -- The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington

Susan Cassels
Using a Network Approach to Assess HIV Risk and Transmission Dynamics

Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007
4:00 - 5:30 PM
1616 Eastlake Avenue E, Suite 300
We have limited space so please come early

Susan Cassels is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology at the University of Washington. She obtained her Ph.D. in Demography from Princeton University in 2005.

Abstract:
The determinants of the disparities in HIV prevalence among populations remain an area of debate and intense scientific research. These disparities have their roots in the transmission system, so understanding that system - its components and its dynamics - is key to understanding the disparities. This work presents network-based methods to evaluate behavioral and biological components of individual and partnership-level risk of HIV, and to model population-level outcomes of these diverse components. First, I use data from the first national study of lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgendered Native Americans to describe partnership-level characteristics and to identify relational formations that are potentially related to high risk of HIV transmission or acquisition. Second, I use a social network model to estimate the proportion of HIV infections due to source partners in the acute stage, and to explore how this changes under different partnership concurrency scenarios. These methods can be used to assess HIV risk and evaluate prevention intervention strategies in various global contexts.

Benjamin Fitzhugh -- Kuril Islands Project in A&S Perspectives

Searching for Clues in the Kuril Islands

It was the end of a long day of digging in the Kuril Islands. A team of archaeologists, including CSDE affiliate Benjamin Fitzhugh, was about to pack up for the evening when UW student Matt Walsh spotted a piece of whale bone in the excavated pit. Carefully removing it, he discovered that the bone had been worked with a carving tool.

The discovery wasn’t of the heart-thumping Indiana Jones variety, but it will provide clues about past human activity on the island. Such clues, along with geological findings, are enabling researchers to piece together a history of the islands.

To read the full Perspectives article, click here.

Charles Keyes -- Retires

Charles Keyes, Professor of Anthropology and International Studies and CSDE Affiliate retires. You can visit Charles' affiliate page here.

David Nolin -- Receives award for Best Student Paper at this year's American Anthropological Association meetings

The Evolutionary Anthropology Society Awards Committee has honored David Nolin, CSDE Fellow, with its award for the Best Student Paper presented at the 2007 American Anthropological Association Annual Meetings. Congratulations David!

Adrian Raftery -- named a Fellow of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics

Adrian Raftery, Professor of Statistics and Sociology, Director of CSSS, and CSDE Affiliate, has been named a Fellow of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Life Sciences Discovery Fund offers 2008 grant opportunities

The Life Sciences Discovery Fund (LSDF) has announced its Grant Competitions for 2008: LSDF 08-01 and 08-02. The 08-01 competition will award approximately $6-8 million for research projects for individual investigator-initiated studies having a sharply defined focus. The 08-02 competition will award approximately $20 million for research programs, specifically strategic research initiatives, designed to more broadly address problems within a field of study and to position organizations for future competitiveness and leadership.

All grant awards are expected to advance the fund's mission to promote life sciences competitiveness, enhance economic vitality, and improve health and health care. John DesRosier, LSDF director of programs, and Mark Hertle, senior program officer, will describe the funding opportunities, explain the proposal process and answer questions. Three sessions have been planned.

Interested researchers are encouraged to visit the LSDF Web site at www.lsdfa.org. E-mail inquiries can also be directed to info@lsdfa.org.

Session times and locations:

Friday, Jan. 11, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Foege Bldg., Auditorium, S060

Friday, Jan. 18, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., T-625, HSC

Tuesday, Jan. 29, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Turner Auditorium, D-209, HSC

The Friday, Jan. 18, session will be simulcast at Harborview Medical Center, Research & Training Bldg., room 113. This session is open to all faculty, staff and students. No registration is required. For more information contact Vee White at veewhite@u.washington.edu.

To request disability accommodations contact the Disability Services offices at 206-543-6452, or dso@u.washington.edu.

CALLS FOR PAPERS

2008 American Sociological Association Annual Meeting

Call for Papers: 2008 American Sociological Association Annual Meeting

How To Submit

All submissions for the 2008 program must be made via the online system which will open on the ASA website in early December. The online forms will prompt you through the steps required to submit your paper or discussion proposal.

Paper authors should review the submission criteria, participation and program policies, and then prepare the following information and files in order to start the online submission process.

Paper Title Abstract (up to 200 words) Preferred keywords Identify 1-2 topics/organizers where you wish your paper to be considered (one Regular Session Topic and one Section Session, or two Section Sessions) Determine if you want your paper forwarded to a Roundtable Session AV equipment request (if needed) Institutional affiliations and email addresses for all co-authors 20-page paper either converted to a PDF file or prepared as a Word, or WordPerfect document stored locally and ready for uploading. If necessary, special tables/charts in Excel or PowerPoint can be uploaded as separate files to accompany the paper.

Submitting authors will receive an e-mail acknowledgment of successful submission receipt.

If an author wishes to contact an organizer directly, contact information may be found by logging into the Members-only area on the website. Or, contact ASA Membership/Customer Service staff at (202) 383-9005x389, membership@asanet.org.

Deadline: The deadline for all submissions is January 16, 2008.

For more details in PDF form, click here.

TRAINING & EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Post Doctoral Research Program -- Rand Populatiuon Studies and the Study of Aging

Targeted Fields
Life Sciences. Physical Sciences. Social Sciences. School of Public Health. School of Public Affairs. Open to economics, geography, sociology, statistics, psychology, public health, and urban planning.

Open To Postdoctoral Scholars.

Citizenship
Open only to U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Eligibility Requirements
Must complete PhD before starting on fellowship.

Stipend
A competitive annual stipend, travel stipend and health insurance.

Deadline 1/15/2008 - deadline for population studies

Program Description
Postdoctoral research/training program in demographics and aging research at RAND. Fellows will work on ongoing projects and their own projects. One award in each of the two areas are offered yearly. Renewable for a second year.

For More Information
Diana Malouf
RAND
1776 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA 90407-2138
(Postal code for overnight mail:
90401)
(310) 393-0411, ext. 6462
diana_malouf@rand.org
www.rand.org/labor/postdoc.html

Fellowships -- The Switzer Fellowship Program

The Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation invites applications from highly talented graduate students in New England and California for Switzer Environmental Fellowships for the academic year 2008-2009. The award amount is $15,000. Twenty fellowships will be awarded to assist graduate students in a broad range of environmental science and related fields. Please note that nominations will not be required this year, but only completed and qualified applications will be considered.

Deadline for Applications: February 1, 2008

Candidates for the Fellowship should demonstrate leadership potential, be able to clearly communicate their objectives for applying their technical or professional expertise to environmental issues after graduation and convey a clarity and sense of purpose about their work. Candidates for the Switzer Fellowship are chosen not only for their excellence in academic and scientific work, but also on their true dedication to aggressively pursue practical solutions to environmental problems. The Fellowships are not restricted to a specific field, but a good foundation in basic sciences is considered a plus. Past Fellows have studied in a range of fields including environmental law, public policy, natural resources management, architecture, business and journalism as well as in more traditional sciences of chemistry, biology and engineering. More detailed information about the Switzer Foundation, the Environmental Fellowship Program, and the network of Switzer Fellows can be found at the Switzer website at http://www.switzernetwork.org/fellowship-guidelines.html.

Post Doctoral Fellowships -- Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, U.C. Berkeley

U.C. Berkeley is currently offering advanced multidisciplinary training and education to outstanding economists, political scientists, sociologists, public policy and health professionals interested in this Health Services Research Training Program.

Application deadline is January 31, 2008.

For full details, click here.

Predissertation Research Awards - Social Science Research Council

The SSRC proposal development workshops provide a wonderful professional development opportunity for graduate students. Please note that one of the research fields is Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change.

Social Science Research Council Dissertation Proposal Development Fellowship 2008

The Dissertation Proposal Development Fellowship (DPDF) supports early-stage graduate students in the humanities and social sciences in formulating doctoral dissertation proposals that are intellectually pointed, feasible for completion, and competitive n fellowship competitions. Funding for the program is provided by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Early-stage graduate students, generally in their 2nd or 3rd years, apply to one of five research fields led by two research directors. For each research field, twelve fellows are selected. Fellows participate in two required four-day workshops, (May and September 2008) that frame their summer 2008 research experiences. The Spring workshop emphasizes preparation for predissertation research; the Fall workshop guides fellows through the synthesis of their summer research into dissertation proposals and applications for dissertation research funding. DPDF Fellows are eligible to apply for up to $5000 from the SSRC to support predissertation research during summer 2008.

2008 Research Fields:

Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change
Muslim Modernities
Critical Studies of Science & Technology Policy
Urban Visual Studies
Animal Studies

Information about the DPDF program, including eligibility and selection criteria, is available through the DPDF website, http://programs.ssrc.org/dpdf/. Fellowship applications are available at http://applications.ssrc.org/.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 8, 2008

Opportunities for graduate students in the humanities and social sciences. Click here to send this announcement to colleagues.

Social Science Research Council
810 Seventh Avenue, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10019

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

World Bank Publications Announcement

National Assessments of Educational Achievement Volume 1 : Assessing National Achievement Levels in Education
By Vincent Greaney and Thomas Kellaghan

The National Assessments of Educational Achievement Series introduces readers to key concepts and issues related to assessments of student achievement levels. The first volume focuses on policy issues which should be addressed when designing and carrying out a national assessment. It features country case studies, and descriptions of major international and regional assessment programs. The remaining books in the series cover test development, sampling, data cleaning, statistics, report writing and using national assessment results to improve educational quality.

November 2007. 176 pages. ISBN: 978-0-8213-7258-6

Risk Analysis for Islamic Banks
By Hennie van Greuning and Zamir Iqbal

Islamic finance is emerging as a rapidly growing part of the financial sector in the Islamic world and is not restricted to Islamic countries, but is spreading wherever there is a sizable Muslim community. According to some estimates, more than 250 financial institutions in over 45 countries practice some form of Islamic finance, and the industry has been growing at a rate of more than 5 percent annually for the past several years.

November 2007. 330 pages. ISBN:978-0-8213-7141-1

World Bank Assistance to Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa: An IEG Review
By World Bank

Sub-Saharan Africa is a critical development priority-it has some of the world's poorest countries and during the past two decades the number of poor in the Region has doubled, to 300 million-more than 40 percent of the Region's population. Africa remains behind on most of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and is unlikely to reach them by 2015. With some of the world's poorest countries, Africa is a development priority for the donor community. A major drag on Africa's development is the underperformance of the critical agriculture sector, which has been neglected both by donors and governments over the past two decades. The sector faces a variety of constraints that are particular to agriculture in Africa and make its development a complex challenge. Poor governance and conflict in several countries further complicate matters. IEG has assessed the development effectiveness of World Bank assistance in addressing constraints to agricultural development in Africa over the period of fiscal 1991-2006.

November 2007. 163 pages. ISBN: 978-0-8213-7350-7

Improving the Business Environment in Latvia: The Impact of FIAS Assistance
By Sanda Liepina, Jacqueline Coolidge and Lars Grava

This book tracks the process through which the Foreign Investment Advisory Service (FIAS) of the World Bank Group advised the government of Latvia from 1998 to 2004 on ways to improve the business environment, achieve higher rates of economic growth, and thereby alleviate poverty.

November 2007. 102 pages. ISBN: 978-0-8213-7189-3

Improving Municipal Solid Waste Management in India: A Sourcebook for Policymakers and Practitioners
By Da Zhu, P. U. Asnani, Christian Zurbrugg, Sebastian Anapolsky and Shyamala K. Mani

Solid Waste Management (SWM) is a matter of great concern in the urban areas of developing countries. The municipal authorities who are responsible for managing municipal solid waste are unable to discharge their obligations effectively because they lack the in-house capacity to handle the complexities of the process.

The book covers very lucidly the present scenario of SWM in urban areas, the system deficiencies that exist, and the steps that need to be taken to correct SWM practices in compliance with Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2000 ratified by the Government of India. The book shares examples of best practices adopted in various parts of the country and abroad, and very appropriately covers the institutional, financial, social, and legal aspects of solid waste management, which are essential for sustainability of the system. It provides a good insight on how to involve the community, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector to help improve the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the service, and shows how contracting mechanisms can be used to involve the private sector in SWM services.

November 2005.187 pages. ISBN: 978-0-8213-7361-1

To Order:
Online: www.worldbank.org/publications
e-mail: books@worldbank.org
Phone: 703-661-1580 or 1-800-645-7247
Fax: 703-661-1501
Mail: World Bank Publications, P.O. Box 960, Herndon, VA 20172-0960, U.S.A.