The TwinLin team: Arieh Schlote (HI), Thomas Hecker (Fraunhofer), Robert Shorten(HI), Astrid Bergman (TU Berlin), Florian Hauesler (Fraunhofer), Jens Zech (Fraunhofer)

See also SFI press release.

1. Post-doctoral researcher in the area of transportation modelling and cooperative feedback control (with specific regard to new vehicle types and vehicle mixes);
2. Post-doctoral researcher in the area of mathematics of distributed optimization of massively large-scale systems;
3. Post-doctoral researcher in the area of cooperative mobility systems and applications of vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure technologies;
4. Ph.D. position in the area of cooperative control and optimization with application to transportation networks.
5. Ph.D. position in cooperative ECO adaptive cruise control.
6. Ph.D. position in cooperative algorithms for hybrid electric vehicle charging and grid integration.
7. Ph.D. position in cooperative sensing with specific application to cooperative GPS applications.
8. Ph.D. position in data privacy and anonymity-preserving communication networks.

A number of these positions will be held jointly with the National Centre for Geocomputation (NCG) and with Fraunhofer-Fokus in Berlin.

A background and knowledge of one or more of the following areas is desirable: Control and Optimization; Queueing/Information theory; Pollution/Environmental Modelling and Sensing in cities; Wireless Communications; Automotive Systems including Hybrid Electric Vehicles.

Postdoctoral candidates must be able to demonstrate an excellent international research track record and the potential to contribute leadership. Postgraduate candidates should hold a good (first-class honours or equivalent) degree in a cognate field and be motivated to tackle challenging research problems.

Postdoctoral appointments will be on the Science Foundation Ireland Research Fellow scale €42,394-€63,125, at a level reflecting experience and qualifications.
Postgraduate scholarships are open to Irish, EU and international students and carry a stipend of €18,000 (tax free).

To apply, candidates should submit a detailed CV, transcripts of undergraduate grades, motivation letter and the names and addresses of two referees for letters of recommendation to Prof. Robert Shorten, email: hamilton@nuim.ie. For further details see www.hamilton.ie.

The Hamilton Institute has one of the largest and most active applied mathematics research groups in Ireland and is an international centre of excellence. The National Centre for Geocomputation (NCG) is a leading international research centre in the field of geographic information science. Both are located in Maynooth, a small university town located 20 Km west of Ireland’s capital city Dublin with a vibrant cultural and social life.

Basic Description

Applications are invited for a PhD research position at the Hamilton Institute. The position is sponsored by Bell Labs Ireland, the R&D arm of the Alcatel-Lucent and a major industry research lab based in Dublin. The Hamilton Institute is one of the largest and most active applied mathematics research groups in Ireland and an international centre of excellence.

Wireless networks are not only ubiquitous and of great economic importance to modern society, but also the source of many of the fundamental scientific challenges faced by modern communication networks. A key feature of modern networks is their scale and complexity and at the Hamilton Institute and Bell Labs Ireland we are developing new models to gain insight and understanding of the issues and novel solutions to tackle these challenges.

The successful applicant will be spending time at the Hamilton Institute and the Bell Labs facilities and gain a unique education from leading researchers from both academia and industry, positioning them well for their career development. The Hamilton institute has a very active international visitor programme and provides the opportunity for international and industry exchange visits. Our Network Maths initiative is part of our structured PhD programme where leading international researchers provide specialist postgraduate modules to support our research students.

For more information on the Hamilton Institute and its research activity, please visit www.hamilton.ie .

Candidate Profile

The candidate should hold a good (first-class honours or equivalent) degree in Mathematics, Engineering or a related field and be motivated to tackle challenging research problems.

Stipend

Our postgraduate scholarships are open to Irish, EU and international students and carry a stipend of €18,000 (tax free). To apply, candidates should submit a detailed CV, transcripts of undergraduate grades, motivation letter and the names and addresses of two referees for letters of recommendation to Prof. Doug Leith, email: hamilton@nuim.ie.

The Hamilton Institute is an inclusive, equal opportunity employer.

A new article by Dr Ken Duffy has appeared in Science:

Activation-induced B cell fates are selected by intracellular stochastic competition Ken R. Duffy, Cameron J. Wellard, John F. Markham, Jie H. S. Zhou, Ross Holmberg, Edwin D. Hawkins, Jhagvaral Hasbold, Mark R. Dowling and Philip D. Hodgkin. Science, Jan 2012.

and has also received wide reporting in the public press, including:

• Irish Examiner
• Irish Independent
• Belfast Telegraph
• The Press Association
• The Age
• Sydney Morning Herald

The ultimate fate of a cell is determined mainly by an internal process, contrary to previously held scientific belief that the behaviour of a cell was dictated by external factors – that’s one of the findings of a leading team of international multidisciplinary scientists including NUI Maynooth mathematician Dr. Ken Duffy and published in this month’s Science magazine. This discovery could have significant implications for immunology, in particular our understanding and treatment of autoimmune diseases like Crohns, Coeliac disease, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.
In a unique international collaboration between mathematics and medical science, Dr. Ken Duffy from the Hamilton Institute, NUI Maynooth, is the lead author of the study which was completed by an international team including immunologists from Prof. Philip Hodgkin’s Laboratory at the prestigious Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne, Australia. The study was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, the Victorian Government and Science Foundation Ireland.

Their research tackled the widely held belief that a cell’s fate was exclusively determined by external cues. Until now, scientists believed that the development of a cell, whether division, death or cellular differentiation into a new cell type, was determined precisely by external factors including the presence of a particular hormone or cell-signaling molecules. This study challenges that belief by showing that a cell’s fate is determined by an internal process, with cells having some control over their own destiny and with external factors providing a probabilistic influence.
The team chose to study immune system B cells, which make antibodies, because they are controllable and can be prompted to expand and change type in response to stimulus. B cells undergo cell development common to many systems including birth, division, differentiation and eventual death, and so the study is representative. It is not, however, possible to say that cells in other parts of the body would react in the same way as that has not yet been determined, but the work proposes a significant mechanism that may be common to other cell types.

Each B cell has the potential to develop in a variety of ways including division, death, production of antibodies and altering the type of antibody it makes. The study showed that the selection of each of these options is consistent with governance by a small internal clock. The ultimate outcome for that cell is determined by which clock fires first. So if the ‘division’ clock completes before the ‘death’ clock, then the cell divides instead of dying. Until now, scientists believed that external signals determined precisely which fate a cell would pursue. The research demonstrates that randomness plays a more significant role in cell behaviour than previously thought and that external signals serve to shape and influence this randomness.

‘The science community will be surprised at the random behaviour of individual cells. Even though the cells in the study were exposed to the same external signals, there was still considerable variation in what happened to each cell,’ said Dr. Duffy.

‘We recreated the conditions required for B cells to develop and then filmed the resulting behaviour. Current teaching says that cells in identical conditions will react in the same way. However, our research shows that the fate of the cell is determined by which clock fires first. The importance of this research is that these clocks can be manipulated by external signals,’ said Dr. Duffy, adding that the research is of great use in understanding the immune system and therefore in determining how to manipulate same to fight infection.

The actual manipulation of the internal cell clocks could potentially be manifested by administering a cocktail of cytokines. These small molecules that float around cells, eventually bind to the cell receptors and induce certain behaviour in that cell. Certain cytokines influence some clocks and not others so by changing the makeup of the cytokine mix, the likely winner of the clock competition can be altered.

The collaboration came about when Professor Phil Hodgkin of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne, Australia visited NUI Maynooth as a SFI Walton Visitor Professor for a sabbatical in 2007. He gave a lecture which Dr. Duffy attended, detailing deductions from 15 years of study into this area. Dr. Duffy realised that his expertise in mathematical probability would have a significant contribution to make to the work in achieving optimum results from the collected data and so the two began their fruitful collaboration.

The team is now planning to study T cells, the influential immune system cells which fight viruses, to ascertain if the findings are replicated there. Their ultimate aspiration is to help design new immune therapies for autoimmune diseases and improved vaccines.

‘The work of Ken and the international team is an extremely important contribution to the scientific record and its publication in Science this month is well deserved. NUI Maynooth staff and students are tackling important, complex questions in every field of study and that is something which is part of the University’s DNA. Our mathematicians are among the strongest in the world as evidenced by Ken’s leading role on this study’, said NUI Maynooth President, Professor Philip Nolan.

• Queueing/information theory applied to wireless networks
• Network optimisation, including dynamic routing/coding
• Application of machine learning techniques to networked systems

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate an excellent international research track record and the potential to contribute leadership in developing new research directions and partnerships to both strengthen and complement existing activity.

This is a full-time research position for 3 years. Salary will reflect experience and qualifications, on the Science Foundation Ireland Research Fellow scale €42,394-€63,125. The Hamilton Institute is an inclusive, equal opportunity employer offering attractive conditions and a stimulating research environment.

To apply for this post, candidates should submit a detailed CV, including a list of publications, motivation letter, a summary of recent projects, scientific interests and expertise, as well as the names and addresses of two referees for letters of recommendation to: hamilton@nuim.ie.

The closing date for applications is 31 March 2012.

It is our great pleasure to announce this one-day Workshop on Linear Algebra and its Applications, jointly hosted by theDept. of Mathematical Physics and the Hamilton Institute at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth.

Coinciding with both Hamilton’s quaternion celebration (October 16th), and the retirement of Prof. Abraham Berman, the workshop brings together some of the leading theory and applications oriented researchers from Ireland and abroad.

We hope you will join us for what will be both an exciting and educational set of lectures, to be held on 17 October 2011 at the Hamilton Institute.

There is no registration fee and all are welcome to attend. To facilitate planning, those wishing to attend the workshop should please contact Rosemary Hunt.

Speakers

Organisers

Robert Shorten and Daniel Heffernan

Applications are invited for a number of postgraduate research positions at the Hamilton Institute in the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. The Hamilton Institute is a multi-disciplinary research centre that seeks to provide a bridge between mathematics and its applications in ICT and biology. Successful candidates will join one of the largest, internationally recognized and most active networking research groups in Ireland.

Wireless networks are not only ubiquitous and of great economic importance to modern society, but also the source of many of the fundamental scientific challenges faced by modern communication networks. A key feature of modern networks is their scale and complexity and at the Hamilton Institute we are developing new mathematical methods to gain insight and understanding.

Graduate students at the institute are embedded in a vibrant, stimulating research environment and gain a unique education from leading researchers, positioning them well for their career development. The institute has a very active international visitor programme and provides the opportunity for international and industry exchange visits. Our Network Maths initiative is part of our structured PhD programme where leading international researchers provide specialist postgraduate modules to support our research students.

For more information on the Hamilton Institute and its research activity, please visit www.hamilton.ie

Candidate Profile

The candidate should hold a good (first-class honours or equivalent) degree in Mathematics or a related field and be motivated to tackle challenging research problems. Interpersonal skills are required for successful interdisciplinary research, so the candidate should be a team player.

Stipend

Our postgraduate scholarships are open to Irish, EU and international students and carry a stipend of €18,000 (tax free). To apply, candidates should submit a detailed CV, transcripts of undergraduate grades, motivation letter and the names and addresses of two referees for letters of recommendation to Prof. Doug Leith, email: hamilton@nuim.ie.

The Hamilton Institute is an inclusive, equal opportunity employer.

About the Hamilton Institute

Graduate Study

• The Hamilton Institute has one of the largest and most active networking research groups in Ireland and is an international centre of excellence.
• The Institute has strong links to leading international research groups and industry research labs. For our students, this not only ensures a “cutting-edge” experience but also provides the opportunity for international and industry exchange visits.
• The Institute provides an excellent student experience. Our Network Maths initiative (www.networkmaths.ie), run jointly with Trinity College Dublin, is part of our structured PhD programme where leading international researchers provide specialist postgraduate modules to support our research students.

Our Students

• We prepare our students for a professional career and for academic research. Our strong research and industry links ensure that, as one of our graduates, you will be well regarded by employers, industry and academia alike.
• Successful applicants will be joining a diverse and cosmopolitan student population

The University and the City

• Maynooth is small university town located 20 Km west of Ireland’s capital city Dublin with a vibrant cultural and social life. About half our students choosing to live in Dublin and half in Maynooth, with an express train line providing easy access.

Applications are invited for a postgraduate position in the Hamilton Institute at the National University of Ireland Maynooth. The programme of research and study is in the general area of essentially nonnegative matrices, with an emphasis on their connections with Markov chains and positive systems. It is expected that the student will work under the supervision of Professor Steve Kirkland, and may collaborate with others at the Hamilton Institute on projects in the area of applied linear algebra.

For more information on the Hamilton Institute and its research activity, please visit www.hamilton.ie

Candidate Profile

The candidate should have a strong mathematical background, as evidenced by an honours undergraduate degree in Mathematics, or equivalent qualifications.  Familiarity with pure and applied matrix theory and combinatorics is an asset. Good communication, interpersonal and presentation skills are required. In addition, the candidate should be a team player who is capable of working with a minimum of supervision.

Stipend

The position carries a stipend of €18,000 (tax free). Appointment commencing by the beginning of Fall 2011 is highly desirable. The Hamilton Institute is an inclusive, equal opportunity employer offering attractive conditions and a stimulating research environment.

To apply, candidates should submit a detailed CV, transcripts of grades, a letter detailing research experience and interests, and the names and addresses of two referees for letters of recommendation to: stephen.kirkland@nuim.ie

The range of topics covered will be broad, and the workshop should be of interest to anyone working in the theory or applications of network science.

Speakers

Giuseppe Bianchi (Universitá di Roma Tor Vergata)
Thomas Bonald (Telecom ParisTech)
Sem Borst (Bell Labs & TU Eindhoven)
Nick Duffield (AT&T Labs)
Ken Duffy (Hamilton Institute)
Ayalvadi Ganesh (University of Bristol)
James Gleeson (University of Limerick)
Nicole Immorlica (Northwestern University)
Anurag Kumar (IISc Bangalore)
Doug Leith (Hamilton Institute)
Kin Leung (Imperial College)
Steven Low (Caltech)
Muriel Medard (MIT)
Sean Meyn (UIUC)
Eytan Modiano (MIT)
Alexandre Proutière (KTH Stockholm)
Sanjay Shakkotai (UT Austin)

Organisers

Ken Duffy and Doug Leith, Hamilton Institute.

For further details, see the workshop web site

The successful candidate will have an excellent academic record and a PhD in Computer Science, Mathematics, or a related discipline. Candidates should have a research record in one or more of graph theory, graph algorithms, and linear algebra; familiarity with large-scale parallel computing and the concepts of heterogeneous and hierarchical computing is also very desirable. The successful applicant will have a demonstrated capacity for independent research, and management of a research programme. They will need to work in a collaborative environment, and will be expected to lead the writing of academic papers.

The position will be funded by IRCSET and IBM through IRCSET’s Enterprise Partnership Scheme. Further details on the Enterprise Partnership Scheme can be found on IRCSET’s website (http://www.ircset.ie/). Applicants must meet IRCSET’s eligibility criteria and will be assessed independently by IRCSET.

For further information or to apply, please contact

Professor Steve Kirkland

SFI Stokes Professor

Hamilton Institute

National University of Ireland, Maynooth Ireland

E-mail: Stephen.Kirkland@nuim.ie