VectorBiTE 2018
We are pleased to announce our first call for applications for the 3rd VectorBiTE RCN annual meeting, to be held June 11-15, 2018 at the Asilomar Conference Center in CA. This meeting has two parts. The first (June 11-13) will be a workshop for graduate students and postdocs on mathematical and statistical methods as well as an introduction to the VectorBiTE Population Dynamics (VecDyn) database. The second portion of the meeting (June 13-15) will be the main RCN meeting with an emphasis on jump-starting new working groups and projects. Applications for each of the two sections will be processed separately. We expect to fully fund up to 50 participants. A limited number of slots may be available for local and/or self-funded participants.
Working Group Applications: DUE March 2nd, 2018
This year the working groups will primarily focus on the question of how we can link data on the heterogeneity of behavioral traits of vectors to models of pathogen transmission (although proposals for projects in other areas will also be considered). Proposed working groups must outline a specific modeling/analysis task on available data. It is expected that a working group should be able to make substantial progress on this task during the 2 days of the meeting and that the analysis will then form the basis for a future collaboration or research project. At the beginning of the meeting, the group leaders will give a 5-minute overview of their project and their goals for the workshop. In the end, the groups will give short presentations on their preliminary results.
Working group proposals can be submitted by up to 3 leaders, and other participants will be assigned to the working group upon acceptance. The proposal (3 pages or less) must include:
- The scientific question to be addressed
- The data that will be used (these data must exist before the working group meeting and the applicants must have access to the data in advance).
- A proposed approach, including what the team expects to be able to accomplish (e.g., a new model to be constructed, new analysis to be conducted, expansion of existing model/framework).
- The set of skills that the applicants would like the additional members of their group to have and why different skills are needed. This is to aid in group formation. Applicants may also suggest potential group members, however, these are not guaranteed, and we suggest that additional members-only be suggested for projects that are offshoots of existing working groups.
Priority will be given to new working groups with projects in the topic focus area. However, existing working groups may propose an extension of a current project or a new project. Proposals from current groups that seek to complete ongoing analyses will be considered based on the progress of the working group.
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Training Workshop Applications: DUE March 16th, 2018
The 2.5-day training workshop is open to graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. The workshop will include training in statistical and mathematical methods for utilizing data (including from the VectorBiTE databases) to parameterize and validate models of VBD transmission. The specific topics covered will be determined in part by the skills that are most in demand by the accepted working groups, in order to facilitate progress on projects. The training workshops will assume a modest statistical, mathematical, and computational background for participants, including previous exposure to R. In addition to the application form, applicants must provide a brief statement on why they wish to attend the workshop, and provide a letter of support from their immediate supervisor. Further, applicants must indicate if they also wish to participate in the RCN meeting, and if so provide the additional information required for meeting applicants (see below).
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VectorBiTE Annual Meeting Applications (Open Session): DUE March 16th, 2018
Applications for the Annual meeting will be accepted from researchers with interest in the links between vector traits and vector-borne disease transmission from a variety of disciplines who wish to participate in the RCN and specifically to join one of the working groups. Applicants will specify their skill sets and identify working groups that they are interested in joining. Leaders of accepted working groups will be automatically accepted for the meeting. Remaining applicants will be chosen to provide diversity in background, experience, and skill sets, and to flesh out working groups. All accepted participants will be assigned to a working group in advance of the meeting.
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