Today I start as one of three new post-doctoral research fellow at the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS).
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NIMBioS is an NSF-funded research center hosted at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Most people pronounce it “nimbus” (like the raincloud). An excerpt from the NIMBioS mission:
A major goal of mathematical models and analysis in biology is to provide insight into the complexities arising from the non-linearity and hierarchical nature of biological systems. Primary goals of NIMBioS [are] to foster the maturation of cross-disciplinary approaches in mathematical biology and foster the development of a cadre of researchers who are capable of conceiving and engaging in creative and collaborative connections across disciplines to address fundamental and applied biological questions.
Read as mathematically-inclined biologists and biologically-inclined applied mathematicians doing science!
One of the best things about this post-doc is that I have the freedom to focus on my own research interests. Another is that I have an awesome research mentor. Another is that I will get to work with a great group of people. Another is that I get to bring together researchers I admire from different fields by organizing two transdisciplinary working groups. And I get to participate in workshops already underway.
In any case, watch this space for updates about my scientific adventures in Tennessee. (Apparently, there’s a chance I’ll finally become a college football partisan.)
Since no one else has yet done so (at least in the comments section), please allow me to congratulate you on your new position. By coincidence I just finished reading the PNAS paper on modeling of Old World complex societies that Peter Turchin is blogging about. It sounds like some very interesting work is being done at NIMBioS, and I wish you the best of luck in your own research projects there.
Frank, thank you for your note. There is interesting work going on here!
I tend to announce new blog posts on social media. This brings people to the site, but I get most of the comments (and congratulations) in the comment section of the social media posts themselves, instead of here the blog proper.
I guess I’m just old-fashioned; RSS is my friend, Facebook is but an acquaintance 🙂