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CSDE Grant Writing Summer Program – Deadline on 5/15

CSDE is developing its first annual summer grant writing program – a chance for you to learn more about NIH grant-writing and to workshop your proposal with other participants and with experienced senior faculty. Writing a grant in isolation can be mystifying—instead, we aim to create a group experience that is still hard work, but which will be supportive, fun, productive, and ultimately rewarding.

 

Two Targeted Postdoctoral Fellowships at NIMBioS

*New!* Targeted Postdoctoral Fellowships at NIMBioS

Since 2009, the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS) has provided opportunities for postdoctoral scholarship at the interface between mathematics and the biological sciences. Targeted Postdoctoral Fellowships at NIMBioS provide support for specific research questions on projects directed by faculty at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. NIMBioS announces two new Targeted Postdoctoral Fellowships.

**Targeted Postdoctoral Fellowship in Mathematical Modeling of Epidemiology and Evolutionary Game Theory**

Applications are currently being accepted for a postdoctoral position in mathematical modeling of epidemiology and evolutionary game theory at NIMBioS and in the Fefferman Lab at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. This is a full-time, one year position, with the potential for renewal.

The work involves the mathematical modeling, including analysis and simulations, of systems of differential equations and game theory. The ideal candidate would have some experience in both areas of applied bio-mathematical research. The researcher will be expected to help formulate mathematical models, characterize analytic properties of the systems, implement numerical simulations, take a primary role in preparing manuscripts for publication, and contribute to the collaborative research group environment.

Requirements:
Ph.D. in pertinent field, including but not limited to applied mathematics, infectious disease epidemiology, or evolutionary biology
Research experience in applied mathematical modeling (epidemiology or evolutionary biology fields preferred, but not required)
Basic understanding of analysis of differential equations
Basic understanding of game theory
Interest in infectious diseases and their evolution
Ability to write clearly and scientifically (e.g. to produce drafts of papers for publication in scientific journals and web-based public outreach without too much oversight); evidence of successful prior publication is a plus
Ability to work/communicate with a multidisciplinary team
Fluency in a mathematical programming environment (preferably Matlab, but Mathematica, R, Python, or equivalent are also acceptable)
Willingness to help with the preparation of additional grant proposals

The Fefferman Lab (http://feffermanlab.org/) is affiliated with the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, the Department of Mathematics, and the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS) at the UT-Knoxville. The candidate will be welcome to participate in any/all of these communities. This is a full-time, one year position, with the potential for renewal.

Review of applications will begin 1 May 2018 and continue until the position is filled. Ideal start date: July 1, 2018.

For more information and the online application, visit http://www.nimbios.org/postdocs/targeted_postdocs

**Targeted Postdoctoral Fellowship in Mathematical Modeling of Biological Systems**

Applications are currently being accepted for a postdoctoral position in mathematical modeling of biological systems at NIMBioS and in the Fefferman Lab at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. This is a full-time, one year position, with the potential for renewal.

The work involves mathematical modeling, focusing initially on analysis and simulations of difference and differential equation models of physiological processes. An ideal candidate would have some experience in at least one relevant area of applied bio-mathematical research. Beyond the initial project, this position will entail collaborating to design new mathematical models for a diversity of novel applications. Any candidate should be comfortable with a variety of modeling techniques and willing to learn new areas of modeling application in collaboration with interdisciplinary research teams. The researcher will be expected to help formulate mathematical models, characterize analytic properties of the systems, implement numerical simulations, take a primary role in preparing manuscripts for publication, contribute to a collaborative research group environment, and participate in preparation of new grant proposals.

Requirements:

  • Ph.D. in some pertinent field. Such fields could include, but are not limited to applied mathematics, epidemiology, ecology, evolutionary biology, physics, engineering, or computer science
  • Research experience in applied mathematical modeling (epidemiology or evolutionary biology are preferred, but not required)
  • Familiarity with at least two of the following mathematical modeling techniques: ODEs, PDEs, SDEs, Game Theory, Cellular Automata, Network Theory, Decision Theory, and Agent Based Modeling
  • Ability to write clearly and scientifically (e.g. to produce drafts of papers for publication in scientific journals and web-based public outreach without too much oversight); evidence of successful prior publication is a plus
  • Ability to work/communicate with a multidisciplinary team
  • Fluency in a mathematical programming environment (preferably Matlab, but Mathematica, R, Python, or equivalent are also acceptable)

The Fefferman Lab (http://feffermanlab.org/) is affiliated with the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, the Department of Mathematics, and the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS) at the UT-Knoxville. The candidate will be welcome to participate in any/all of these communities.

Review of applications will begin 1 May 2018 and continue until the position is filled. Ideal start date: September 1, 2018.

For more information and the online application, visit http://www.nimbios.org/postdocs/targeted_postdocs

 

Ann Bostrom Explores How the Public Perceives Hurricane Risks

Despite advanced technical forecasting, hurricanes continue to trigger devastating human and economic losses. CSDE Affiliate Ann Bostrom, a Professor at the Evans School, examines how the public perceives hurricane risk in Eyeing the Storm: How Residents of Coastal Florida see Hurricane Forecasts and Warning.” The article, published in International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction with co-authors Rebecca Morss, Jeffrey K. Lazo, Julie Demuth, and Heather Lazrus, focuses on Miami-Dade County, which is one of the most hurricane-prone areas in the country.

Through mental models interviews and survey data, Bostrom and her colleagues found that forecasting experts and members of the public have differing perceptions on the risk of flooding and storm surge. They suggest that these findings can inform improvements in the hurricane forecast and warning system to ensure that people have access to clear, comprehensible information on the risks of hurricanes.

Kam Wing Chan Uses Interactive Migration Maps to Explore the Future of Mega Cities

By 2100, at least 10 cities are projected to have populations that exceed 50 million. How will this change take shape – and how will it impact society? The latest issue of Ensia tackled this question – and the authors used migration maps from CSDE Affiliate Kam Wing Chan, Professor of Geography, to share their story.

The article draws on research from demographers Daniel Hoornweg and Kevin Pope, who posit that “humanity is now an urban species,” and that developing countries need to prepare for a growing urban migration over the course of the next century. They conclude that “Efforts to improve city governance and urban management are urgently needed, especially in regions where current levels of service provision are already poor, yet cities are expected to grow markedly.”

To read the article – and see Chan’s mapping – click below.

Lecturer or Visiting Professor: Anthropology

The Department of Sociology & Anthropology at the University of Idaho is seeking a physical anthropologist for a full-time, one-year lecturer or visiting professor position. The applicant should be able to teach a four-field introduction to anthropology class and introductory courses in bioanthropology and other courses related to their specialty. Ideally the candidate could offer contributions or course specialties in the following areas: forensic anthropology and bioarchaeology. This position may also contribute to the American Indian Studies minor and the development of the Africana Studies program. The successful applicant may utilize the Bowers Anthropology Lab.
Visiting Assistant Professors will hold a regular teaching position at another institution, otherwise individuals will be appointed as lecturers.
This temporary appointment is for the 18-19 academic year and will not be continued, however, the department will be recruiting for a tenure or non tenure-track position next academic year and accepting this position would not preclude someone from applying for the permanent position.

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Evolutionary Anthropology and Demography

The Department of Anthropology at the University of New Mexico invites applications for a postdoctoral scholar specializing in quantitative anthropology or demography to study the effects of market integration on the distribution of various forms of wealth in an NSF-funded collaborative research project. The candidate must have a Ph.D. in anthropology or closely related field. The successful candidate will work under the guidance of Drs. Siobhán Mattison (https://anthropology.unm.edu/…/prof…/siobhán-m-mattison.html), Mary Shenk (http://anth.la.psu.edu/people/mks74), and Tami Blumenfield (http://www.furman.edu/…/meet-ou…/Pages/Tami-Blumenfield.aspx), and perform the following tasks: (1) maintain a database that houses project data from two fieldsites; (2) contribute to analysis, write-up, and dissemination of project results; and (3) oversee logistical aspects of project management, including tending to Institutional Review Board (IRB), granting institution, and budgetary issues. The candidate must have training in quantitative methods. Additional preferred qualifications include knowledge of MS Access, SQL, R, and evolutionary anthropological or demographic theory. The salary is $47,500 per year, with benefits, for an initial appointment of ten months, with the possibility of renewal contingent on performance and success in obtaining extramural funding. Fieldwork opportunities in Southwest China or in Bangladesh may be possible based on the interests of the candidate.

Application Materials and Instructions: A 1-2-page cover letter with description of previous research and the ability to meet the qualifications laid out in this advertisement; a list of three references with contact information, and CV, all compiled into a single PDF file with the applicant’s surname as the file name. Please include a peer-reviewed publication or manuscript in preparation that serves as a representation of your written work. Please send as an email attachment to Siobhán Mattison (smattison “at” unm.edu). Application review will begin on April 21 and continue until the position is filled. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

Graduate Summer Researcher: HIV Testing Guidelines

Global WACh is seeking a summer graduate student (~50% FTE, hourly GRSA) to support a World Health Organization (WHO) contract designed to inform HIV testing guidelines.  The GRSA will adapt an existing Markov model of repeat maternal HIV testing for low HIV prevalence settings, and also adapt the model using Excel to incorporate dual HIV and syphilis testing into antenatal care.

Strong analytical/mathematical skills and prior modeling experience required, experience with HIV programs/research is desirable.  PhD student preferred.

Results from this work will be used to develop a manuscript and 2019 WHO guidelines. If you’re interested, please describe your interests/skills and send a CV/resume to Alison Drake at adrake2@uw.edu.

 

Alexes Harris Wins UW Distinguished Teaching Award

CSDE Affiliate Alexes Harris, Professor of Sociology, was just announced as a recipient of the University of Washington Distinguished Teaching Award. The award, which is the university’s highest award for instruction, recognizes Harris for her exceptional leadership in within the Sociology department.

The Distinguished Teaching Award is part of the Awards of Excellence program, which recognizes recipients  for achievements in teaching, mentoring, public service and staff support. Harris and other awardees will be honored at 3:30 p.m. on June 7 at a ceremony in Meany Hall for the UW community and general public.

Introduction to Data Management Series (Affiliate Jacqueline Meijer-Irons facilitates final workshop on 5/4/2018)

This Spring, Global WACh and the Center for Studies of Demography and Ecology (CSDE) present a four-part skills series:  Introduction to Data Management. This series is designed to help students who aspire to do research develop skills with methodologies, platforms, and data sets commonly used by research teams at the University of Washington and beyond.

Affiliate Jacqueline Meijer-Irons, a Demographic Research Scientist, will be the CSDE facilitator for the final workshop, Intro to Analyzing Demographic and Health Surveys.

In this Series, students will be introduced to a framework for data management and several tools and analysis techniques often used to answer research questions.  The series is suited to masters and PhD-level students at the University of Washington with some exposure to health research in a local or global context. Faculty members are welcome to refer their research assistants or other members of their team who will benefit from any or all workshops. Join us for:

INTRO TO DATA MANAGEMENT

Brandon Guthrie, PhD, MPH
April 6th 2018, 2:00-4:00PM
Health Sciences T-360A
Register Here: https://goo.gl/forms/Vle0ttWedePOFHtA3

OPEN DATA KIT

Keshet Ronen, PhD
April 13th 2018, 9:00AM-12:00PM
Health Sciences T-360A
Register Here: https://goo.gl/forms/lYcLPMzWODHu0Q172

REDCap

Brandon Guthrie, PhD, MPH
April 27th 2018, 9:00AM-12:00PM
Health Sciences T-360A
Register Here: https://goo.gl/forms/FYUGY10UojgNL2jd2

ANALYZING DHS DATA

Jacqueline Meijer-Irons, PhD
May 7th, 2018, 9:00AM-12:00PM
Savery Hall 117
Register Here: https://goo.gl/forms/k8XNx0SfancZ9SfH2 (For CSDE-affiliates)

Participants are welcome to, but are not required, to register for all four workshops. Plan to bring their own laptops for all workshops except for Part 4: DHS Data Program, which will be held in a computer lab on campus.  Space is limited for each workshop so please register early!

Call for Applications – Summer Institute in Computational Social Science, Seattle

From Monday, June 18 to Friday, June 22, the Summer Institute in Computational Social Science is sponsoring a Seattle partner location hosted at the University of Washington. SICSS is for both social scientists and data scientists, broadly conceived, and the program is intended for graduate students and others doing computational social science research at the University of Washington and in the broader Seattle and Puget Sound area. Participants in SICSS will gain hands-on experience in working with computational methods, and will be pushed to think more deeply about applying those methods to social-science research problems. A primary goal of SICSS is to bring together scholars from a range of computational and social-science background, to share their complementary strengths and enhance each other’s work.

To apply, please submit a paragraph expressing your interest in the program, a current CV, and your responses to a few questions about background and interests to https://goo.gl/forms/nH97Fg7bZ7XsXmQ73. Applications will be due May 4, with decision notifications by May 18. Due to limited space, up to twenty-five participants will be invited.

SICSS-Seattle is sponsored by the Sloan Foundation, the Russell Sage Foundation, and the eScience Institute and the Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology at the University of Washington. There is no cost to participate. Please see https://compsocialscience.github.io/summer-institute/2018/seattle/ for further information about the program and schedule, and direct any questions to sicss.seattle@gmail.com.