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IEEE ICDL-EPIROB 2016, Sept. 19-22th, Cergy-Pontoise/Paris, France (submission April 1st)

by Arnaud Blanchard

Call for Papers & Call for Tutorials and Special Sessions IEEE ICDL-EPIROB 2016 The Sixth Joint IEEE International Conference on Development and Learning and on Epigenetic Robotics Cergy-Pontoise / Paris, France September 19-22th, 2016 http://www.icdl-epirob.org <http://www.icdl-epirob.org/> == Conference description The past decade has seen the emergence of a new scientific field that studies how intelligent biological and artificial systems develop sensorimotor, cognitive and social abilities, over extended periods of time, through dynamic interactions with their physical and social environments. This field lies at the intersection of a number of scientific and engineering disciplines including Neuroscience, Developmental Psychology, Developmental Linguistics, Cognitive Science, Computational Neuroscience, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Robotics. Various terms have been associated with this new field such as Autonomous Mental Development, Epigenetic Robotics, Developmental Robotics, etc., and several scientific meetings have been established. The two most prominent conference series of this field, the International Conference on Development and Learning (ICDL) and the International Conference on Epigenetic Robotics (EpiRob), are now joining forces for the sixth time and invite submissions for a joint conference in 2016, to explore and extend the interdisciplinary boundaries of this field. == Keynote speakers * Tamim Asfour (http://h2t.anthropomatik.kit.edu/english/21_66.php <http://h2t.anthropomatik.kit.edu/english/21_66.php>) * Karl Friston (http://www.fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk/~karl <http://www.fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk/~karl>) * Julie Grezes (http://iec-lnc.ens.fr/social-cognition-group/membres-100/faculty-177/grezes… <http://iec-lnc.ens.fr/social-cognition-group/membres-100/faculty-177/grezes…>) Others to be confirmed. == Call for Submissions We invite submissions for this exciting window into the future of developmental sciences. Submissions which establish novel links between brain, behavior and computation are particularly encouraged. == Topics of interest include (but are not limited to): * the development of perceptual, motor, cognitive, emotional, social, and communication skills in biological systems and robots; * embodiment; * general principles of development and learning; * interaction of nature and nurture; * sensitive/critical periods; * developmental stages; * grounding of knowledge and development of representations; * architectures for cognitive development and open-ended learning; * neural plasticity; * statistical learning; * reward and value systems; * intrinsic motivations, exploration and play; * interaction of development and evolution; * use of robots in applied settings such as autism therapy; * epistemological foundations and philosophical issues. Any of the topics above can be simultaneously studied from the neuroscience, psychology or modeling/robotic point of view. == Submissions will be accepted in several formats: 1. Full six-page paper submissions: Accepted papers will be included in the conference proceedings and will be selected for either an oral presentation or a featured poster presentation. Featured posters will have a 1 minute "teaser" presentation as part of the main conference session and will be showcased in the poster sessions. 2. Two-page poster abstract submissions: To encourage discussion of late-breaking results or for work that is not sufficiently mature for a full paper, we will accept 2-page abstracts. These submissions will NOT be included in the conference proceedings. Accepted abstracts will be presented during poster sessions. 3. Tutorials and workshops: We invite experts in different areas to organize either a tutorial or a workshop to be held on the first day of the conference. Tutorials are meant to provide insights into specific topics as well as overviews that will inform the interdisciplinary audience about the state-of-the-art in child development, neuroscience, robotics, or any of the other disciplines represented at the conference. A workshop is an opportunity to present a topic cumulatively. Workshop can be half- or full-day in duration including oral presentations as well as posters. Submission format: two pages. == Call for Tutorials and Workshops We invite experts in different areas to organize a tutorial or workshop, which will be held on the first day of the conference. Participants in tutorials and workshops are asked to register for the main conference. Tutorials are meant to provide insights into specific topics as well as overviews that will inform the interdisciplinary audience about the state-of-the-art in child development, neuroscience, robotics, or any of the other disciplines represented at the conference. A workshop is an opportunity to present a topic cumulatively. Workshop can be half- or full-day in duration including oral presentations as well as posters. Submissions (max. two pages) should be sent no later than April 1st, 2016 to: Sofiane Boucenna sofiane.boucenna(a)ensea.fr <mailto:sofiane.boucenna@ensea.fr> Alexandre Pitti alexandre.pitti(a)ensea.fr <mailto:alexandre.pitti@ensea.fr> including: * Title of tutorial or workshop; * Tutorial/workshop speaker(s), including short CVs/affiliations and other relevant information; * Concept of the tutorial/workshop; target audience or prerequisites. All proposals submitted will be subjected to a peer review process. == Important dates * April 1st, 2016, paper submission deadline * June 1st, 2016, author notification * July 1st, 2014, final version (camera ready) due * September 19th-22nd, 2014, conference == Program committee General chairs: * Minoru Asada Osaka (Japan). * Philippe Gaussier, Cergy-Pontoise (France). Program chairs: * Verena Hafner, Berlin (Germany) * Alexandre Pitti, Cergy-Pontoise (France) Bridge chairs: • David Cohen, Paris (France) • Mathew Schlesinger, Southern Illinois (USA) Publication chairs: * Sofiane Boucenna, Cergy-Pontoise (France) Publicity chairs: * Arnaud Blanchard, Cergy-Pontoise (France) * Manuel Lopes, Bordeaux (France) * Yulia Sandamirskaya, Bochum (Germany) Local chairs: * Pierre Andry, Cergy-Pontoise (France) * Nicolas Cuperlier, Cergy-Pontoise (France) Finance chairs: * Ghilès Mostafaoui, Cergy-Pontoise (France)

Nov. 7, 2015

CFP: VECPAR 2016 - High Performance Computing for Computational Science

by Carlos Ferreira

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ CALL FOR PAPERS 12th International Meeting on High-Performance Computing for Computational Science (VECPAR 2016) University of Porto, Porto, Portugal June 27 - 30, 2016 http://vecpar.fe.up.pt/2016/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IMPORTANT DATES: Deadline for submission: January 15th, 2016 notification of acceptance: March 3rd, 2016 camera ready version: April 25th, 2016, on easychair.org. The International Meeting on High Performance Computing for Computational Science (VECPAR) is the premier venue for presenting and discussing the latest research and practice in high end computer modeling and complex systems. VECPAR encourages submission of research contributions from academia, research laboratories and industry to address pressing issues in computational science resulting from applications of interest to society and hardware innovations. VECPAR'16, the 12th edition of the VECPAR series of conferences is organized by the University of Porto, Portugal, and will be held at the Department of Computer Science, School of Sciences. An award is planned for best student papers. Contributions are solicited in all areas of computational science and engineering (CS&E), including (but not limited to) the following topics: * Large scale Simulations in CS&E * Parallel and Distributed Computing * Parallel Algorithms * Numerical Algorithms on Multicore, GPUs and Emerging Architectures * Symbolic algorithms on Multicore, GPUs and Emerging Architectures * Support Tools and Environments * Scheduling and Load Balancing * Performance Analysis, Evaluation and Tuning You should make your submissions through EasyChair at: https://www.easychair.org/conferences/?conf=vecpar2016 Submitted papers must be formatted according to the rules of the Springer Series Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS): http://www.springer.com/computer/lncs?SGWID=0-164-6-793341-0 Please note that papers (for conference presentation) must not exceed 8 pages in length, using the LNCS format. Accepted papers will be distributed in electronic format to participants of VECPAR'16. Printed versions of the invited talks and a set of selected papers will be published by Springer in the series entitled Lecture Notes in Computer Science. Selected papers will be limited to 14 pages and will be judged based on relevance, significance, originality, correctness and clarity. More information about this process will be sent to interested authors after the conference. Carlos Ferreira [http://www2.isep.ipp.pt/assinatura_email/EMAIL_ISEP.png] ISEP | Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 431 4249-015 Porto - PORTUGAL tel. +351 228 340 500 | fax +351 228 321 159 mail(a)isep.ipp.pt | www.isep.ipp.pt<http://www.isep.ipp.pt>

Nov. 7, 2015

PhD program in Brain & Cognitive Sciences at the University of Rochester

by Rajeev Raizada

Graduate Training in Brain and Cognitive Sciences at the University of Rochester The Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences (BCS) at the University of Rochester offers opportunities for students interested in earning a doctoral degree in one of the most exciting fields of scientific endeavor. Particular areas of research strength include: language, perception and action, development and learning, concepts and categories, and decision-making. Full details can be found at: http://www.bcs.rochester.edu . Recent news about research done in the department can be found on its Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/UoR_BrainCogSci We seek outstanding candidates from a variety of backgrounds who seek a rigorous program of study and exceptional mentoring in research. All students admitted to the program are offered graduate fellowships that provide a full stipend and cover the costs of tuition and single plan health insurance. The Department has a number of new faculty with research programs focusing on cognitive neuroscience, development of language and cognition, language learning, theoretical and computational neuroscience, and visual neuroscience. Interested applicants can find details at http://www.bcs.rochester.edu/graduate/admission.html The closing date for applications for admission in Fall 2016 is January 4, 2016. Readers of the Comp-Neuro list may be particularly interested in work being done by the following faculty members: Ralf Haefner (computational neuroscience) https://www.bcs.rochester.edu/people/faculty/haefner_ralf/index.html Robbie Jacobs (computational cognition, Bayesian modeling) https://www.bcs.rochester.edu/people/faculty/jacobs_robert/index.html Jude Mitchell (neurophysiology, computational neuroscience) https://www.bcs.rochester.edu/people/faculty/mitchell_jude/index.html Steve Piantadosi (computational cognition, Bayesian modeling) http://colala.bcs.rochester.edu/people/piantadosi/ Rajeev Raizada (computational fMRI) http://raizadalab.org Neuroimaging facilities include a research-dedicated 3T Siemens MRI scanner at the Rochester Center for Brain Imaging (RCBI), and also state-of-the-art NIRS and EEG systems. More information can be found at http://www.rcbi.rochester.edu

Nov. 6, 2015

Graduate studies at the Princeton Neuroscience Institute

by Yael Niv

The Graduate Program in Neuroscience at Princeton University offers a unique and intensive program of study spanning molecular, cellular, systems and cognitive neuroscience, followed by advanced research in a world-class Princeton laboratory. We seek highly motivated and creative students in our efforts to understand the brain. A listing of faculty affiliated with the program can be found online at www.princeton.edu/neuroscience<http://www.princeton.edu/neuroscience>, and below. Our doctoral program is flexible and individually-tailored, and we encourage students to pursue research with more than one faculty and across departmental boundaries. Applications for entry in the Fall of 2015 are now being accepted, with a deadline of December 1. For details, including contact information, please visit www.princeton.edu/neuroscience<http://www.princeton.edu/neuroscience>. Michael Berry - Neural computation in the retina William Bialek - Interface between physics and biology Lisa Boulanger - Neuronal functions of immune molecules Carlos Brody - Quantitative and behavioral neurophysiology Tim Buschman - Neural dynamics of cognitive control Jonathan Cohen - Neural bases of cognitive control Nathaniel Daw - Reward, learning and decision making Lynn Enquist - Neurovirology Liz Gavis - Neural development and mRNA localization in Drosophila Alan Gelperin - Learning, memory and olfaction Asif Ghazanfar - Neurobiology of primate social agents Elizabeth Gould - Neurogenesis and hippocampal function Michael Graziano - Sensorimotor integration Charles Gross - Functions of the cerebral cortex in behavior Uri Hasson - Temporal scales of neural processing Philip Holmes - Mathematical modeling John Hopfield - Computational neurobiology/biophysics Barry Jacobs - Brain monoamine neurotransmitters Sabine Kastner - Neural mechanisms for visual perception Carolyn McBride - Molecular and neural basis of behavioral evolution Mala Murthy - Neurophysiology of olfactory and auditory perception in Drosophila Coleen Murphy - Molecular mechanisms of aging Yael Niv - Reinforcement learning and decision making, computational psychiatry Ken Norman - Neural bases of episodic memory Jonathan Pillow - Neural information processing, machine learning, and statistical modeling of neural data Sebastian Seung - Structure and function of neural circuits Joshua Shaevits - Neural and behavioral dynamics in simple organisms David Tank - Neural circuit dynamics Jordan Taylor - Motor control and learning Alexander Todorov - Cognitive neuroscience of social cognition and behavior Nicholas Turk-Browne - Cognitive neuroscience of attention, perception and memory Samuel Wang - Dynamics and learning in neural circuits Ilana Witten - Neural circuits underlying reward and motivation

Nov. 6, 2015

Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit, PhD Programme

by Peter Dayan

Training in theoretical and computational neuroscience and machine learning. The Gatsby Unit is a centre for theoretical neuroscience and machine learning, focusing on unsupervised, semi-supervised and reinforcement learning, neural dynamics, population coding, Bayesian (Including nonparametric) statistics, kernel methods and applications of these to the analysis of perceptual processing, neural data and beyond. It provides a unique opportunity for a critical mass of theoreticians to interact closely with each other, and with other world-class research groups in related departments at UCL, including the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, with which we share a brand new building, and Computer Science, Functional Imaging, Physics, Physiology, Psychology, Neurology, Ophthalmology, Statistical Science, and with the cross-faculty Centre for Computational Statistics and Machine Learning. The Unit has openings for exceptional PhD candidates. Applicants should have a strong analytical background, a keen interest in neuroscience and/or machine learning and a relevant first degree, for example in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Neuroscience, Physics, Psychology or Statistics. The PhD programme lasts four years, including a first year of intensive instruction in techniques and research in theoretical neuroscience and machine learning. All students are fully funded, regardless of nationality. The Unit also welcomes applications from students with pre-secured funding or who are currently soliciting other scholarship/studentships. Gatsby PhD studentships cover the cost of tuition at the appropriate rate, and include a tax-free stipend of £20,500 per annum. Applications (including a CV, statement of research interests, and letters from three referees) for 2016/17 admission must be sent directly to the Gatsby Unit admissions(a)gatsby.ucl.ac.uk by midnight Greenwich Meantime (GMT) December 21st, 2015. If you would require a visa to attend an interview, if selected, then please contact us directly as soon as your application is complete and your referees have submitted their recommendations. Full details of our programme, and how to apply, are available at: http://www.gatsby.ucl.ac.uk/teaching/phd For further details of research interests please see http://www.gatsby.ucl.ac.uk/research.html and the individual faculty webpages at http://www.gatsby.ucl.ac.uk/members.html

Nov. 6, 2015

faculty positions in computational neuroscience, cognitive psychology, etc Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia

by boris gutkin

School of Psychology at the Faculty of Social Sciences Assistant Professor in Psychology (multiple positions) School of Psychology at the Faculty of Social Sciences National Research University Higher School of Economics Moscow, Russia The School of Psychology of the Higher School of Economics in Moscow, Russia invites applications for full-time, tenure-track positions of Assistant Professor in psychology and related fields, notably in cognitive psychology, social and personality psychology, economic psychology, engineering psychology cognitive and computational neuroscience (including neuroeconomics). Applications for Associate and Full Professorships can also be considered in exceptional cases. Knowledge of Russian is not required as teaching is done in English. About HSE The HSE is a young, dynamic, fast-growing Russian research university. Over the past twenty years, the HSE has become one of Russia's largest universities in the fields of economics, social sciences and humanities, and has earned the reputation of a national leader in higher education. One of its unique features has been its direct involvement in socioeconomic reforms in Russia, which has allowed HSE to develop as a “project and research university” where education, fundamental and applied research, and "think tank" activities are combined for the comprehensive development of society. Committed to high-quality research, HSE now has over twenty international research laboratories, led by eminent professors from all over the world; more such laboratories are expected to be opened by early 2016. The Department of Psychology provides excellent research facilities for studies in experimental psychology and cognitive neuroscience. We provide excellent opportunities to teach in English at BA and MS levels. Requirements Candidates must hold a recent Ph.D. in psychology, social sciences, neuroscience, computer science, electrical engineering, mathematics or related fields, or be within a year of completion at the time of application. The successful candidate is expected to conduct high-quality research publishable in reputable peer-reviewed journals with research support provided by the university’s Centre for Advanced Studies. The appointments will be made for three years in the first instance, starting in September 2016, with reviews of teaching and research during the third year. Benefits The salary is competitive, indexed to inflation annually, and subject to a 13% flat income tax. The university offers health insurance (free of charge), language assistance, and other social benefits; travel support and other research assistance are generous. Since we have heavy emphasis placed on high quality research, the teaching load of newly hired faculty is relatively low and service is minimal. Application and Interviews Please provide a CV, a statement of research interest and a recent research paper via online application form. At least 2 letters of reference should be forwarded directly to the attention of the Psychology Review Committee at cas(a)hse.ru. The deadline for accepting application materials is December 04, 2015 . More information about the university and the Centre is available at the www.hse.ru/en, http://social.hse.ru/en/psy/ and www.cas.hse.ru For more information about research at the Theoretical Neuroscience Group please contact me directly. Boris Gutkin, PhD Research Director CNRS Group for Neural Theory Laboratoire des Neurosciences Cognitives, INSERM U 960 Department of Cognitive Studies Institute for the Study of Cognition Ecole Normale Superieure Paris. France boris.gutkin(a)ens.fr www.gnt.ens.fr

Nov. 6, 2015

Fully funded PhD position in: Machine learning in multi-variate data processing / integration and analysis for clinical diagnostics and prognostics

by Andrea Soltoggio

*Fully funded PhD position in: Machine learning in multi-variate data processing / integration and analysis for clinical diagnostics and prognostics * A fully funded PhD position is available in a multi-disciplinary project between the School of Science and the School of Business and Economics, Loughborough University, UK, on the topic of machine learning in multi-variate data processing / integration and analysis for clinical diagnostics and prognostics. Loughborough University is ranked 11th in the 2016 UK League Table Ranking ( http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/loughborough/performance , and is located in Loughborough, a town well connected to London by a 1h20m journey by train. *Research. *The application of advanced analytical techniques to the discovery and implementation of human-borne Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) markers of interest requires large numbers of samples taken from a highly variable sampled population. Efficient progress in this enterprise is limited by the current limits on the speed and sophistication of the data processing and multivariate analysis of the analytical system outputs. This studentship will start the exploration of the boundary between advanced analytical science (sensory capability) and machine learning, including neural and deep learning. It will be part of what is intended to be an enduring collaboration between researchers in Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics and Information Science. The supervisory team is composed of Dr. Andrea Soltoggio, expert in Artificial Intelligence and Neural Learning, and Dr. Martin Sykora, expert in Machine Learning, Data Mining and Big Data. The academic team supporting this project will include: Prof. C. L. Paul Thomas Chemistry, markers and detection Prof. Tom Jackson, Centre for Information Management, applied and theory based knowledge management Dr. Iain Phillips, Department of Computer Science, computer networks and high performance computing Dr. Eugenie Hunsicker, Department of Mathematics, statistical techniques *Working environment.* The student, based at the Computer Science Department http://www.cs.lboro.ac.uk, School of Science, will work and collaborate with diverse research groups: the Center for Analytical Science (Chemistry Department) with access to research of the Toxi-triage H2020 project (http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/194860_en.html)) and the Center for Information Management (CIM) http://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/cim/. Loughborough University offers cutting-edge computing capabilities with a Hydra High Performance Computing cluster, a 1956-core 64-bit Intel Xeon cluster supplied by Bull, and GPUs computing capabilities. *Requirements.* The ideal candidate holds (or is about to obtain) a first-class honour undergraduate/postgraduate degree (or equivalent) in Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Electrical or Electronic Engineering, or has authored publications in recognised conferences/journals. Independent working skills are valued as well as the capability of working in a team. Collegiality and interpersonal skills are essential. Excellent English language skills are highly desired (see requirements here http://www.lboro.ac.uk/international/englang/index.htm) *Period/Scholarship.* Start: January 2016. Duration: 3 years. Scholarship: £14,057 per annum plus tuition fees at the UK/EU rate (currently £4,052 p.a.) Application deadline: 16 November 2015. *Enquiries and applications.* Informal enquiries are encouraged and to be addressed to Dr. Andrea Soltoggio (a.soltoggio(a)lboro.ac.uk) Interested candidates are invited to submit an application at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/apply/research/including a CV, the names and addresses of two referees, and a statement of research interest (maximum 300 words). Best regards, Andrea Soltoggio -- Dr. Andrea Soltoggio Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence Department of Computer Science Haslegrave Building, N.2.03 Loughborough University LE11 3TU, UK Phone: +44 (0) 1509 635748 Email: a.soltoggio(a)lboro.ac.uk Web: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/compsci/staff/dr-andrea-soltoggio.html

Nov. 6, 2015

postdoc opening at University of Pittsburgh

by Jonathan Rubin

Postdoctoral position in Mathematical Biology The Department of Mathematics at the University of Pittsburgh invites applications for a two-year postdoctoral position in Mathematical Biology, to begin in the Fall Term 2016, pending budgetary approval. A Ph.D. in Mathematical Sciences or a closely related discipline is required. We seek excellence in research and teaching. Salary and benefits are competitive. Applicants should submit a vita, three letters of recommendation, a research statement and evidence of teaching accomplishments electronically through http://www.mathjobs.org. Review of completed files will begin on January 4, 2016 and continue until the position is filled. The University of Pittsburgh is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and members of minority groups underrepresented in academia are especially encouraged to apply.

Nov. 5, 2015

Phd-Positions in Bonn & Florida: Max Planck Research School Brain and Behavior

by Jakob Macke

Dear Colleagues, The new International Max Planck Research School for Brain and Behavior is a fully funded graduate program in the neurosciences jointly hosted between caesar, Bonn, Germany and the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI), USA. In addition, IMPRS for Brain and Behavior is co-run by partner Universities: University of Bonn, Germany and Florida Atlantic University in the USA. Detailed information is available on our web site: http://www.imprs-brain-behavior.mpg.de. IMPRS for Brain and Behavior is announcing fully-funded Ph.D. positions in Neuroscience. Students will receive both theoretical and hands-on training in a large range of modern imaging, electro-physiological, molecular and computational techniques. They will be exposed to a broad range of research areas based on how sensory information is encoded in neural circuits and how these circuits are activated during behavior. Students will take courses and attend scientific symposia at the partner institutions in Bonn and Florida – thereby being exposed to an exceptionally broad group of international scientists and provided the opportunity to earn a doctorate under outstanding research conditions. Successful candidates will work in a young and dynamic international environment, embedded in the local scientific communities of caesar or MPFI. As both caesar and MPFI are part of a large cluster of Max Planck Institutes working in the neurosciences, students will have unparalleled insight into the broad range of outstanding research taking place in the Max Planck Society, Germany’s most successful research organization. The Ph.D. program is open to highly qualified and motivated candidates from all over the world who hold an outstanding diploma or master degree. Please upload your application (details online) through the online application portal found at: http://www.imprs-brain-behavior.mpg.de Application deadline is December 1; positions available starting September 2016. For further information please contact: info(a)imprs-brain-behavior.org or Denise Butler, Coordinator, phone: +49(0)228 / 9656-318, imprs.info(a)caesar.de. We are excited about this new venture! We ask that you spread the word far and wide by forwarding this email to students and colleagues interested in our overarching theme of how sensory information is encoded in neural circuits and is ultimately transformed to behavior. Jakob Macke Max Planck Research Group Leader Neural Systems Analysis phone +49/228/9656170 fax +49/228/96569170 e-mail: jakob(a)caesar.de www.mackelab.org research center caesar an associate of the Max Planck Society Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2 53175 Bonn, Germany www.caesar.de Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience 72076 Tübingen, Germany www.bccn-tuebingen.de

Nov. 5, 2015

4th Winter Q-Bio Mtg in HAWAII Feb. 2016 ***REMINDER! Abstract submission deadline NOV. 10, 2015***

by Santamaria, Cookie

***REMINDER: ABSTRACT DEADLINE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2015!*** THE FOURTH ANNUAL WINTER Q-BIO MEETING Quantitative Biology on the Hawaiian Islands February 15-18, 2016 http://w-qbio.org/ The Winter q-bio meeting brings together scientists and engineers who are interested in all areas of q-bio. Technology is driving revolutionary changes in biology. Systems Biology has arisen as the deduction of interaction networks from -omics data generated in the wake of remarkable technological achievements. Likewise, DNA synthesis technologies are driving the development of Synthetic Biology, whereby engineered circuitry and even entire genomes can be reconstituted from chemical building blocks. These two emerging areas have catalyzed the growth of Quantitative Biology, whereby the central goal is the deduction of quantitative principles that can be used to construct predictive models for biological phenomena. The venue for 2016 is the Sheraton Waikiki<http://www.sheraton-waikiki.com/>, which is located in Honolulu, on the island of Oahu. The resort is known for its breathtaking oceanfront views, a first-of-its-kind recently opened "Superpool" and many award-winning dining venues. This year we will select contributed talks from the submitted abstracts to be presented with the invited talks during the plenary sessions. Contributed talks will also be selected for parallel breakout sessions that commence in the late afternoon. 2016 CONFIRMED SPEAKERS: Nathalie Balaban — Hebrew University Karen Carniol — Cell Hana El-Samad — UCSF James Ferrell — Stanford Justin Gallivan — DARPA Susan Golden — UCSD Jeff Hasty — UCSD Evonne Kaplan-Liss — Stony Brook Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz — NIH X. Shirley Liu — Harvard Amy Palmer — Colorado Katie Pollard — UCSF Bryan Ray — Science Jonathan Weissman — UCSF Lingchong You — Duke CONFERENCE ORGANIZERS: Jeff Hasty, University of California, San Diego Galit Lahav, Harvard University Wendell Lim, University of California, San Francisco Gurol Suel, University of California, San Diego Olga Troyanskaya, Princeton & Simons Center for Data Analysis Lev Tsimring, University of California, San Diego ***REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!*** Registration fee covers conference venue, registration reception, banquet, coffee & snacks. EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION ($700 / $475 Student) DEADLINE: Sunday, December 20, 2015 REGULAR REGISTRATION ($800 / $575 Student) DEADLINE: Sunday, January 31, 2016 LATE REGISTRATION ($875 / $650 Student) After Sunday, January 31, 2016 REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE AT: http://www.w-qbio.org/register/ HOTEL: A block of rooms has been reserved for registered conference participants at the Sheraton Waikiki<http://www.sheraton-waikiki.com/> at a negotiated rate starting at $229 per night plus tax. We have also reserved a block of rooms at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani<http://www.princess-kaiulani.com/> (just one block east and across the street from the Sheraton Waikiki) at a negotiated rate starting at $160 per night plus tax. The rooms will be available soon on a first-come, first-served basis, so book early! CONTRIBUTED TALKS: If you wish to present your work at the conference, either as an oral talk or a poster, you must submit an abstract through the conference website by the November 10th deadline. Abstract guidelines and submission information at: http://www.w-qbio.org/submit-abstract/ ABSTRACT DEADLINE: Tuesday, November 10, 2015 Abstract guidelines and submission information at: http://www.w-qbio.org/submit-abstract/ We encourage you to forward this message to any colleagues who may be interested in taking part in this exciting event. Questions should be emailed to: coordinator(a)w-qbio.org<mailto:coordinator@w-qbio.org> SPONSORED BY: ACS Synthetic Biology UC San Diego BioCircuits Institute and the San Diego Center for Systems Biology UC San Diego Divisions of Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, q-bio, and Engineering

Nov. 5, 2015