University of
Utah
Utah IGERT Workshop
Interdisciplinary Workshop
June 16-19, 2005
Featuring Dr. Michael Reed, Duke University
Department of Mathematics, University of Utah
Funding provided by the National Science Foundation through
The Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) program.
The Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) program.
| Thursday, June 16 |
|
| 2:00 -3:00pm | Seminar in LCB
225 Title: Probability Theory & Neurobiology Abstract: Neurons are inherently variable devices and therefore an imporatant general question in the study of the central nervous system is how we can make accurate calculations with (large numbers of) imperfect devices. This question is particularly pertinent in the auditory system where behavioral studies show that mammals can detect extemely small time differences. After a brief introduction to the auditory system, expermental data will be presented that show that the question is serious indeed. A natural abstraction of the question leads to a (not so simple) problem in probability theory for which analytical and computational results (with Colleen Mitchell) will be presented. Recent theoretical results suggest that behavior of some real neurons is similar to behavior of the abstract neurons. Experiments are currently underway to see if this is true. |
| 3:00-3:30 pm |
Meeting with Dr. James Keener |
| 3:30-4:00 pm |
Meeting with Dr. Laura Miller |
| 4:00-4:30 pm |
Meeting with Dr. Robert Guy |
| 4:30-5:15 pm |
Meeting with Giao Huynh and Molly Kelton |
| 6:00pm - | Dinner with
students and faculty |
| Friday, June 17 |
|
| 9:30-10:00 am |
Meeting with Dr. Aaron Fogelson |
| 10:00-10:30 am |
Meeting with Dr. Fred Adler |
| 10:30-11:00 am |
Meeting with Dr. Viktoria Hsu |
| 11:00-11;30 am |
Meeting with Andy Oster |
| 11:30 - 12:30pm |
Lunch with students and faculty |
| 1:00 - 2:00 pm | Seminar
in LCB 215 Title: Mathematics, Folate and Methionine Metabolism, and Public Health Abstract: Folate and methionine metabolism, a small part of cell biochemistry, is crucial for cell replication and DNA methylation. There is mounting evidence that the mechanisms by which some polymorphisms or dietary deficiencies are statistically linked to heard disease and certain cancers involve disruptions of folate and methionine metabolism. Folate is also the target of several chemotheraputic agents and some antibiotics target folate metabolism in bacteria. A collaborative mathematical modeling project (with Cornelia Ulrich of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Institute and Fred Nijhout of the Duke Department of Biology) has the goal of understanding the quantitative and qualitative emergent properties of the whole biochemical network. Published and current work will be described as well as the difficulties involved. Several public health issues will also be discussed. |
| 2:00-2:30 pm |
Meeting with Geoffrey Hunter |
| 2:30-3:00 pm |
Meeting with Amber Smith and Courtney
Davis |
| 3:00-3:30 pm |
Meeting with Berton Earnshaw |
| 3:30-4:00 pm |
Meeting with Nessy Tania and Tom Robbins |
| 4:00-4:30 pm |
Meeting with Young-Seon Lee |
| 4:30-5:00 pm |
Meeting with Dr. Kim Montgomery |
| 6:00pm - |
Dinner with
students and faculty |
| Saturday, June 18 |
|
| 9:00 - 10:30am |
Group
workshop session #1 Meet in LCB 215 |
| 10:30 - 11:00am | Break |
| 11:00 - 12:00pm |
Group workshop session #2 |
| 12:00 - 1:00pm |
Lunch with students and faculty |
| 1:00-3:00 pm |
Students
work on Projects |
| 3:00 - 4:30pm |
Workshop
presentations (~20 Minute Presentations by Each Group) |
| 6:30pm - | BBQ! |
| Sunday, June 19 |
|
| 10:00am - | Recreational hike
in Wasatch Front (Millcreek Canyon, Timp. Caves, Red Butte Gardens) |
- All workshop talks
will be held in LCB Rm 215 or LCB Computer Lab.
- The workshop has no registration fees. We ask you to register by contacting Aaron McDonald (amcdonal@math.utah.edu), Will Nesse (nesse@math.utah.edu) or John Zobitz (zobitz@math.utah.edu) to indicate attendance at the workshop.
- Light refreshments will be provided during the workshop breaks.
- Friday dinner will be at 6:00 PM, location TBD. Dinner expenses will, unfortunately, not be covered.
- There will be a cookout BBQ on Saturday, 6:00 PM, location TBD
- There will be a hike/recreational activity on Sunday.
Details will be announced at the workshop
Projects on Probability and Neurobiology
(I) Nessy, Zach
(II) Berton, Geoffrey, Will
(III)
Projects on Folate and Methionine Metabolism
(I) Giao, John
(II) Meagan, Courtney
(III) Amber, Aaron
(IV) Molly, Mike
(V)
(VI)
See background references