Topics in this BSSR_SYSTEMS_SCI-L Digest - 4 Feb 2012 to 10 Feb 2012 - Special issue (#2012-6):
1. SciTS Conference Registration and Research Poster Abstract Submission
Deadline Both Extended!
2. NCI Bulletin story on network analysis
3. Secondary Data Analysis Initiative - Travel Grants between the UK and US
4. SPLASH internship at IBM
5. Nature Physics articles - Jan 2012 issue
6. NIH's Center For Scientific Review (CSR) seeking reviewers for ECR program
7. NIH Responds to Study Showing Inequities in NIH Awards - RFI seeks public
input
8. Pre & Postdoc positions: Systems Science in Childhood Obesity and Public
Health Research
9. Registration Open for NIH Mixed Methods Workshop
SciTS Conference 2012 Early-bird Registration and Poster Abstract Submission Deadlines Extended!
SciTS Conference Early-bird Registration Extended Through February 24
April 16-19, 2012
~ Registration and Call for Poster Abstracts now open ~ Discounted Early-bird registration extended through Friday, February 24
The Annual International Science of Team Science (SciTS) Conference is a forum to enhance our understanding of how best to engage in team science to meet society's needs. The SciTS Conference serves: as a point of convergence for investigators studying science teams and team science leaders/practitioners; to engage funding agencies to provide guidance on developing and managing team science initiatives; and to afford data providers and analytics developers insight into collaboration tracking and analysis needs. In this way, the SciTS Conference acts as a bridge between the science of team science and the praxis of team science, an important conduit for translating empirical findings about team science into evidence-based effective practices for scientific teams and funders of team science. Click HERE<http://www.scienceofteamscience.org/> to access the SciTS Conference home page.
Research Poster Abstracts & Lightning Round Talks Submission Deadline Extended Through February 17
Authors are invited to submit abstracts for research poster presentations related to any science of team science topic or area and from any field of study or practice. Early career and other eligible investigators are encouraged to submit their abstracts for Lightning Round talk consideration! The research poster session will be held on Monday, April 16 at 5:00 PM in conjunction with a networking reception. Lightning Round talks will be presented on Wednesday, April 18 in the evening. Abstracts are limited to one page and must follow the template provided. The abstract submission deadline has been extended through Friday, February 17. Click HERE<http://www.scienceofteamscience.org/research-posters-abstracts> for full details about submitting a research poster abstract and Lightning Round Talk.
***************************************
Holly Falk-Krzesinski, Ph.D.
Chair, Annual International Science of Team Science (SciTS) Conference Research Assistant Professor and Director, Research Team Support & Development (RTS&D) Clinical and Translational Sciences (NUCATS) Institute Northwestern University
750 N. Lake Shore Drive
Rubloff Building, Room 11-145
Chicago, IL 60611
P 312-503-0889
F 312-503-3889
Skype: hfalk1
Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 10:01:00 -0500
Subject: NCI Bulletin story on network analysis
Note that NIH has an FOA specifically geared toward SNA, Social Network Analysis and Health PAR-10-145/146
From: Tran, Elizabeth
Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2012 9:21 AM
To: SBE Program Officers
Subject: Secondary Data Analysis Initiative – Travel Grants between the UK and US
Dear Colleagues,
As part of their ramp-up efforts, the ESRC just announced they are offering small travel grants to potential applicants to the ESRC's Secondary Data Analysis Initiative. These travel grants are aimed to help facilitate and develop collaborations between potential US and UK project partners. A maximum of 10 travel grants for travel between the US and UK are available.
SBE posted a notice on its external website late yesterday about the travel grants (http://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=SBE) and we encourage you to alert your research communities to this opportunity. There is a very tight timetable for these grants – interested researchers must submit an “expression of interest” (this should come from the UK project partner) by February 14, 2012, 4pm GMT and all travel must be completed by March 31, 2012. Due to the tight time frame, this will likely be of interest only to US researchers already collaborating or already discussing possible research collaboration with UK colleagues.
Best,
Elizabeth
Elizabeth Tran
Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences
National Science Foundation
703-292-5338
Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 10:12:01 -0500
Subject: SPLASH internship at IBM
**********Summer Intern: Service System Modeling and Simulation*******
We have a summer internship opportunity available on the Splash project in the Almaden Services Research group at the IBM Almaden Research Center in San Jose, California. Splash -- the Smarter Planet Platform for Analysis and Simulation of Health -- is a novel computational framework for integrating independent data, models, and simulations to create comprehensive system models. We are looking for a PhD student with extensive programming and implementation experience (Java, Linux, Eclipse) and with an interest in large-scale simulation and modeling. In addition, database and Hadoop experience will be important. For more information on Splash and the team, see http://www.almaden.ibm.com/asr/projects/splash/ . If interested, please send a current CV to Paul Maglio, pmaglio@almaden.ibm.com<mailto:pmaglio@almaden.ibm.com>
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Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 13:48:33 -0500
Subject: Nature Physics articles - Jan 2012 issue
Dear BSSR-Systems Science Listserv members,
Nature Physics has some relevant articles in the Jan 2012 issue.
Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:57:41 -0500
Subject: NIH's Center For Scientific Review (CSR) seeking reviewers for ECR program
Dear BSSR-Systems Science Listserv members,
Serving on an NIH review committee has much to recommend it:
* You are participating in the system that makes peer review work - without peers who do the reviewing the system of review breaks down.
* You will learn a lot about the review process by witnessing it firsthand.
* You will observe other reviewers in action and learn what pitfalls to avoid in your own submission.
* You will be exposed to cutting edge research which may stimulate your thinking about your own research.
* While the pay is not exorbitant, you will be compensated for your time, and your travel reimbursed if you attend a review in person; many reviews are conducted by phone
Many people are aware of the value of serving on NIH review in terms of enhancing one's own grant writing skills, but many are also under the mistaken impression that you cannot serve as an NIH reviewer without first having NIH funding. I posted a message in the fall about this wonderful new program at CSR called Early Career Reviewer Program, and below I am providing an update that comes from the CSR's newsletter, "Peer Review Notes" that was published in January 2012. Remember also, that you can nominate yourself as a review not only through ECR program, but also by sending your CV to the Enhancing Peer Review mailbox at: enhancingpeerreview@od.nih.gov<mailto:enhancingpeerreview@od.nih.gov>.
CSR's Early Career Reviewer Program Seeks More Participants
CSR is expanding the recruitment of up-and-coming researchers into its new Early Career Reviewer (ECR) program, which was publicized in the September Peer Review Notes last year.
We developed the ECR program to
(1) train established scientists without prior review experience to become excellent reviewers,
(2) give these scientists an experience that will make them more competitive applicants and
(3) engage emerging scientists with specific expertise needed by our study sections.
"The initial response has been tremendous," said CSR Acting Director Dr. Richard Nakamura, "I'm happy to say we received almost 1,000 nominations, and about 50 percent of CSR study sections included an ECR in the last review round." "While the program was specifically designed to recruit qualified ECRs from less research-intensive institutions, we have opened the program to any qualified applicant-with a special emphasis on diversifying institutions NIH draws reviewers from."
What is expected? ECRs will participate in a CSR study section meeting once a year for up to two years, serving as the third reviewer on two to four NIH grant applications each time. This lighter review load will help ECRs stay focused on advancing their research careers.
What are the requirements? We are looking for researchers who have an active, independent research program, who are published in peer reviewed research journals, and who have not reviewed for CSR in a face-to-face meeting. An ECR does not necessarily need to have NIH or equivalent funding.
To Learn More, Visit Our ECR Program Web Page:
Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:06:32 -0500
Subject: NIH Responds to Study Showing Inequities in NIH Awards - RFI seeks public input
Dear BSSR-Systems Science Listserv members,
NIH Responds to Study Showing Inequities in NIH Awards
How well do underrepresented minority researchers do when applying for NIH grants? This past summer, Science magazine published some unsettling data authored by NIH-supported researchers and staff seeking to answer this question:
Their study revealed that between 2000 and 2006, black grant applicants received significantly fewer NIH grants than white applicants. There was a 10 percentage point gap in success rates between black and white applicants even after controlling for education, country of origin, training, employer characteristics, previous grants, publication history and many other variables.
Dr. Lawrence Tabak, NIH Principal Deputy Director, met with CSR's Advisory Council October 25, 2011, to discuss this inequity and the NIH response. He said it was disconcerting that, after more than 30 years to improve the situation, black and Hispanic researchers are underrepresented in the NIH-funded workforce. He said that there were a number of factors that likely are at play. For example, the overall number of underrepresented minorities going into science and engineering is quite low, with fewer than 500 underrepresented minorities earning Ph.Ds. in biology, chemistry and physics each year. http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12984
While this is an issue larger than NIH, NIH is committed to understanding and addressing this inequity.
NIH Action Items
Dr. Tabak noted that previous service on an NIH review committee reduced disparities for black applicants. He then said it was very fortunate that CSR had already developed its Early Career Reviewer Program, which includes many underrepresented minority researchers who have expertise needed by CSR review groups.
To improve the diversity of the biomedical workforce, NIH has developed an action plan and is seeking out the causes for the disparities in success rates. It has also begun to take action, including-
* Engaging in rigorous communication with all stakeholders.
* Supporting the expansion of the CSR Early Career Reviewer program, both to expose these investigators to the review process and to increase the diversity of review panels
* Exploring experiments to determine if implicit bias exists in peer review and how to eliminate it.
* Supporting pre-application mentoring in institutions.
* Funding extramural grants, including the NIH Pathfinder Award, to study interventions that might strengthen diversity.
* Establishing two high-level groups, one internal and one external.
The external group, the ACD Working Group on Diversity in the Biomedical Research Workforce, has met several times and issued a preliminary report in December and will issue a final report in June 2012.
Discussion
Dr. Tabak welcomed suggestions from the members of CSR's Advisory Council. Several members suggested possible ways to conduct blinded studies to understand better what role reviewer bias could play.
Dr. Peter MacLeish from the Morehouse School of Medicine emphasized how important addressing this issue was for the nation. He also noted that the neuroscience institute at his school-working closely with NINDS-has had an 83 percent success rate in early investigators obtaining R01s. He said these data may not be statistically significant because of the relatively small numbers of researchers involved, but the conditions at his institute could help point to some ways forward for other institutions: researchers there are strongly supported, know their value to the institute, and must meet high expectations.
NIH Wants Your Suggestions: The NIH Director Working Group on Diversity in the Biomedical Research Workforce is seeking input on ways NIH could promote diversity in the biomedical research workforce. This group is also seeking input to help NIH identify-and as necessary address-factors in peer review that may be associated with funding disparities. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-12-031.html Submit your comments via the Web site noted in the announcement by February 24, 2012.
Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:13:34 -0500
Subject: Pre & Postdoc positions: Systems Science in Childhood Obesity and Public Health Research
Systems Science in Childhood Obesity
and Public Health Research
Pre-doctoral and Post-doctoral opportunities at Johns Hopkins University
The NIH funded, Johns Hopkins Global Center for Childhood Obesity (JHGCCO) is recruiting qualified pre-doctoral and post-doctoral trainees from diverse fields (e.g. Public Health, Medicine, Engineering, Nursing, or Arts and Sciences) with a career interest in addressing childhood obesity, non-communicable chronic diseases, and related topics in public health using systems science theories and methods.
Applications are invited from exceptional individuals who will benefit from involvement with training and research activities and who will contribute to the Center and the field at large. Women and candidates from under-represented minorities are particularly encouraged to apply. Trainees will be provided with training in systems science and public health, research opportunities, and involvement in diverse Center activities. A traineeship including stipend will be provided.
Eligibility and Requirements
The pre-doctoral candidates must have passed the admission requirements for a masters or doctoral program at one of the departments in the five Schools listed above. Postdoctoral candidates must have a doctoral degree in a relevant field.
Application Process
To apply, please send curriculum vitae, three references, and a letter of intent to the Center's Education and Training Core (ETC) Program Manager, Rosemary Mountain, at rmountain@jhu.edu<mailto:rmountain@jhu.edu>. The letter must be no more than 1000 words and should address the following points:
1. What are your most important previous experiences that make you a good candidate for this training program?
2. What are your long term career goals and how would this training program fit those goals?
3. What do you want to focus on in your research and how does that fit with this training program? Please be specific about particular skills, knowledge or certification that are relevant to your future career. Please also mention if you prefer to work with a particular Center faculty member.
4. Why are you interested in research about childhood obesity and systems approaches to public health?
Pre-doctoral candidates, please include a description of what Hopkins school, department and degree program you have applied to, or are currently enrolled in, and a clear statement of where you are in the process.
Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:30:10 -0500
Subject: Registration Open for NIH Mixed Methods Workshop
Using Mixed Methods to Optimize Dissemination and Implementation of Health Interventions Workshop May 3, 2012 Natcher Conference Center (Building 45) - Balcony A NIH Campus Bethesda, MD There is no fee to register for this workshop.
Mixed methods research is increasingly important for addressing complex problems facing public health. Mixed methods approaches are particularly well-suited to enhance our understanding of how to optimize dissemination and implementation (D&I) of evidence-based interventions. A challenge inherent in D&I research is that often neither a qualitative nor a quantitative approach alone is sufficient to fully understand the processes involved and/or outcomes resulting from the dissemination or implementation of a given intervention. Mixed methods research involves the intentional collection and integration of both qualitative and quantitative data and capitalizes on the strengths of each to enhance the breadth and depth of the researchers' understanding of a problem. Mixed methods research is a tool that can help to ensure that evidence-base strategies to improve health and prevent disease are effectively delivered in clinical and public health practice.
The goal of this workshop is to illustrate the utility of mixed methods approaches to improve and enhance dissemination and implementation research. Specifically, the workshop will:
* Provide a rationale for using mixed methods for dissemination and implementation research and identify the types of studies for which these methods are most appropriate
* Describe mixed methods research designs and examples of mixed methods studies in dissemination and implementation research
* Demonstrate effective integration of methods in grant writing and analytic plans
Helen
Helen I. Meissner, Ph.D.
Senior Advisor
Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Office of the Director National Institutes of Health
31 Center Drive
Building 31/Room B1C19
Bethesda, MD 20892-2027
Phone:301-594-2105
Fax: 301-402-1150
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