MANCHESTER 1824	School of Computer Science
Weekly Newsletter	26 Sept 2011
Contents News from HoS This Week School Events External Events Funding Opps Prize & Award Opps Research Awards Staff News Vacancies Links News Submissions Newsletter Archive School Strategy School Intranet School Seminars ESNW Seminars NaCTeM Seminars	News from Head of School Computer Architecture Lectureship Following an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to appoint to this post at the first time of advertising (it is a long story...), the post has now been readvertised at: http://www.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/jobs/vacancies/academic/vacancy/?ref=87645 If you know of suitable candidates, please encourage them to apply. Computer Engineering Lectureship/Senior Lectureship John Bainbridge has resigned from the position of Senior Lecturer in Computer Engineering, which he started on 1st September.  As the applicant ranked second by the interview panel was also considered highly appointable, a further offer will be made shortly. Policy on Consultancy and Outside Work The Board of Governors have recently approved a new Policy on Consultancy and Outside Work. The new Policy can be found at: http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/DocuInfo.aspx?DocID=7929 There is also a new Handy Guide to explain the main points of the Policy, see: http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/DocuInfo.aspx?DocID=11176 Events BBSRC PhD Studentship allocation for 2012 28 Sept 11 Open meetings to discuss BBSRC PhD Studentship allocation for 2012 BBSRC have changed the mechanism by which their PhD studentships will be allocated in future.  The award of studentships will now be made to the University rather than to individual Faculties.  A cross-Faculty BBSRC Doctoral Training Programme (DTP) Board, directed by Nick Turner (Chemistry) will administer the studentships.  The call for project proposals for studentships to start September 2012 will be circulated imminently.  All staff working within the BBSRC remit are encouraged to participate in the project proposal process.In order to explain the new BBSRC DTP, the cross-Faculty recruitment process, and address questions relating to how to prepare project bids for these studentships, two open meetings are planned. Hopefully you will be able to attend one of these meetings: Meeting 1:  Wednesday 21st September 2011, 1.00pm Roscoe LTB Meeting 2:  Wednesday 28th September 2011, 2.00pm Roscoe LTB Ray Boot-Handford (Faculty of Life Sciences) Deputy Director of DTP Board (with responsibility for Recruitment) Ray Boot-Handford Call for Nominations: 2011 Best PGR Student Paper Prizes 30 Sept 11 Dear all, Each year at the PGR Symposium, prizes are awarded for the best PhD thesis examined, and the best student paper published, in the previous year. This year the Symposium is running from the 1st to the 3^rd November. This message is to request nominations of papers by PhD students for the 2011 prizes. Nominations need to be sent to Jonathan Shapiro by Friday 30th September, which is just over 3 weeks from today. Thus, if you are:   1. A student who has published a good paper during the last 12months or so, please encourage your supervisor to put it forward for the best paper prize.   2. A supervisor one or more of whose students published a good paper during the last 12 months or so, please encourage your supervisor to put it forward for the prizes.   3. A research group leader, please ensure that one or more good papers published by research students in your group are put forward for the prizes. More details relating to the prizes (including rules for entry) are available Here Students, please note that it is the prerogative of your supervisor to nominate your paper but feel free to make a case to her/him if you believe you have one. Supervisors, please note in the above web page the need to provide supporting material for the nomination. The deadline for submission to Jonathan Shapiro is Friday 30th September 2011. This is a HARD deadline as the Symposium will take place four weeks after and the awarding committee needs time to consider all the evidence and reach a decision. I will send a reminder in a week's time. Please feel free to email Josh Knowles or Jon Shapiro if you need any clarification. University of Manchester GPU Club 30 Sept 11 http://gpu.manchester.ac.uk/Club 2-3:30pm, Fri 30 Sept 1.219, University Place GPU (graphics processing units) are no longer solely for graphics: they have significant computational grunt and are now being used to accelerate all types of computation. The University GPU Club exists to bring together UoM researchers working with GPUs in order to share experiences and learn from one another. The first GPU Club of 2011/12 will be held on Friday 30 September with a variety of local speakers on pertinent topics.  2pm: Introduction & overview of GPU research at UoM (IT Services for Research) 2:15: Perri Needham, Chemistry:  To C or not to C: GPU programming in FORTRAN 2:35: Daniel Valdez Balderas, MACE: Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics Simulations on Multi-GPU Clusters 2:55: Will Thompson, Maths: Fast algebraic reconstruction for real time x-ray CT 3:15: Future plans 3:30: Close We're always happy to give space for discussion and other presentations, either at this meeting or the next meeting on Friday 9 December. Yours,  IT Services for Research UG Open Day Volunteers Required 8 Oct 11 Having navigated confirmation and clearing, our attention is turning to the upcoming Undergraduate Open Day, scheduled for Saturday October 8^th.The October Open Day is the key recruitment event in the 2011/12 calendar and an opportunity to speak directly to students considering joining undergraduate programmes in September 2012. The day is all the more important given that these students will be the first to pay higher level tuition fees. In order to make the day a success we are in need of a number of volunteers to give talks, run demos, chat to prospective students and their parents, and generally help us present the School as a welcoming and vibrant place to study. The activities that we run as part of the Open Day have been scheduled as follows: 11:30 - 12:00: Computer Science Subject Area Talk 13:00 - 13:30: Computer Science Subject Area Talk 12:00 - 13:00: Demos and meet and greet on lower first 13:30 - 14:30: Demos and meet and greet on lower first 09:30 - 15:30: Computer Science Information Stand (Schuster Building) At the last Open Day in June we ran Toby's augmented reality demo in the Schuster building. It was extremely well received. We plan to repeat this, but would also like to run some other demos here in the School. As such, we're keen to hear from staff and students who have something interesting to showcase. If you are willing to provide a demo, or to help out with any of the activities above, please let us know. Thanks Bernard LMS Computer Science Colloquium 11 Oct 11 leaflet The aims of the meeting are to showcase state of the art scientific computing applications, to identify some of the challenges posed by next generation high performance machines and indicate promising approaches to tackling the problem. Tuesday 11 October, 10.30. 16.30 De Morgan House, 57-58 Russell Square, London, WC1B 4HS. (Nearest tube: Russell Square) Medical Research Council E-Health Informatics Research Centres (E-HIRCs) Call 1 Nov 11 The Medical Research Council, in partnership with Arthritis Research UK, the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, the Economic and Social Research Council, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the National Institute of Health Research, the National Institute for Social Care and Health Research (Welsh Assembly Government), the Chief Scientist Office (Scottish Government Health Directorates) and the Wellcome Trust invite proposals for Centres of Excellence in research linking electronic health data. The Centres will pursue cutting-edge research, deliver innovative linkage and analysis of health-related data sets, build research capacity and expertise and act as an interface with industry, practice and policy with the aim of building and sustaining a vibrant health informatics research capability in the UK. More details can be found here: http://www.mrc.ac.uk/Fundingopportunities/Calls/E-healthCentresCall/index.htm  CS Away Day 4 Nov 11 I am planning an away day for all academic staff and a number of PSS staff in CS on 4^th November 2011. This is the last day of Reading Week and the day after the CS Research Symposium. It is likely to run from mid/late morning until the end of the afternoon and it will not be held very far away. We will be discussing a range of important topics that relate to the future of the School, and the outcome of the day will feed directly into the next School plan. I will provide further details as soon as possible, but in the meantime please could you put this in your diaries. Please could you reply to Lynn Howarth to confirm your attendance or let her know if you are unable to attend. Best Wishes Jim Miles University of Manchester: Headstart 9 11 Nov 11 We are now arranging the ninth running of HEADSTART, the University of Manchester's Leadership Development Programme. Completed applications should be endorsed by the candidate's HOS/line manager and Dean/Director as set out in the brochure link below. Applications should be sent to Emma Rygielska in STDU by 11 November. If a hard copy of this information is required, please contact Emma. If you require any more information about the Headstart programme please contact Paul Dixon. HEADSTART Distribution Memo (doc) (pdf) HEADSTART Brochure 2011 (pdf) HEADSTART 9 APPLICATION FORM (doc) (pdf) New Funding and Award Opportunities EPS Faculty strategic fund 17Oct 11 In line with the Faculty’s long-term strategic plan we have managed to develop, and maintain, a small strategic fund to further support research and teaching activities across the Faculty. This investment is alongside our major strategic investments, which I will continue to highlight at the Faculty’s Open Meetings. Similar to last year, I would welcome short proposals (maximum 2-pages) to enhance our teaching and research activities as outlined in the attached document. All proposals must be submitted to Colin Bailey by 17th October 2011 Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences Strategic Fund Royal Society International Exchanges Scheme 17 OCT 11 Aim: This scheme is for scientists in the UK who want to undertake a collaboration with scientists overseas through either one-off visit or bilateral travel. Eligibility requirement: The scheme covers all areas of the life and physical sciences, including engineering, but excluding clinical medicine. Both the UK applicant and overseas applicant must: ■ have a PhD, or be likely to have a PhD by the time the funding starts ■ hold a fixed or permanent contract at an eligible organisation for the duration of the project (ineligible organisations include industrial, private and commercial organisations, university spin-out companies,  government bodies and research institutes and research councils) ■ be based in the respective countries at the time of the application ■ Collaborations should be based on a single project and travel can only take place between the UK and a country where the overseas collaborator is based.  In the case of cost share applications (see below), a relationship between both parties should already be established prior to making an application. The International Exchanges Scheme is available for travel to all countries outside of the UK. Applicants should ensure that they meet all the eligibility requirements, which are explained in the scheme notes (available on the website). Value and tenure: The funding available is dependent upon the length of the visit.  Applicants may request: ■up to of £3,000 for one-off travel lasting up to 3 months ■up to £6000 for multiple visits to be completed within 1 year (including a maximum of £1000 for research expenses) ■up to £12,000 for multiple visits to be completed within 2 years and cost share projects fixed at 2 years (including a maximum of £2000 for research expenses) Cost-share programme: Depending on which country your collaboration is with proposals can be considered as a cost share application.  This entails the UK applicant submitting a proposal to the Royal Society for up to £12,000 AND the overseas applicant simultaneously submitting a proposal for an additional amount up to/equivalent to £12,000 to a partner organisation, with whom the Royal Society has a funding agreement.  For details of countries covered, application and eligibility requirements please read the cost share programme scheme notes (available on the website). More Information China cost-share round closing date for approved applications: 10 October 2011 2011/R2 round closing date for approved applications: 17 October 2011 RAofE - Engineering Enterprise Fellowships 21 Oct 11 The Royal Academy of Engineering has launched a new scheme, Engineering Enterprise Fellowships, which provide funding and support to outstanding entrepreneurial researchers, working in UK Universities, to enable them to spend 12 months developing the commercial potential of their research. Enterprise Fellowships provide up to £85,000 seed funding, including salary support, to build a commercial enterprise at a UK University. In addition to the funding, business training is provided to develop skills and masterclasses will be offered using experienced entrepreneurs to supplement the training. Mentors will be allocated to each Enterprise Fellow to provide support and advice during the Fellowship. Access will be given to business angels and venture capital networks through the Mentors. Deadline for applications is Friday 21 October 2011. Further details are available here Royal Society Research Grants 25 OCT 11 Aim:  This scheme provides ‘seed corn' funding for new projects initiated by research scientists at an early stage of their career (within the first 5 years). The objective of the scheme is to increase the availability of specialised equipment, consumable materials and services, and to support essential field research. The scheme also provides support for research in the history of science or to assist with publication of scholarly works in the history of science. Subjects covered: All areas of the life and physical sciences, including engineering, but excluding clinical medicine. Additionally, the scheme provides support for research in the history of science and we welcome any research proposal or publication in the area of Royal Society history. Eligibility: Applicants must be resident in the UK.  They should have postdoctoral level or equivalent status at the time of the application and have a permanent or a named limited-tenure position in an eligible organisation. An applicant who is a post-doctorate paid by a grant for which someone else is the principal investigator is not eligible. Applicants must play a major part and take a leading role in the project and not make its fulfilment more than marginally dependent on the services of postgraduate/doctoral students. For further information regarding eligibility, please refer to the 2011R2 scheme notes, which will be available on the website when the round opens. Length of tenure: The grant is for a period of 12 months Place of tenure: UK University or not-for-profit research organisation (except for Research Council Institutes). Value:  For all subject categories, up to £15,000 (including VAT) is available for the purchase of specialised equipment, essential consumable materials and services.  Up to £5,000 (including VAT) is available for the publication of scholarly works in the history of science. For further information regarding admissible costs, please refer to the 2011/R1 scheme notes, which will be available on the website when the round opens. More Information Opening date: 30 August 2011 Closing date for approved applications:  25 October 2011 Academy’s Research Fellowship scheme 31 OCT 11 The Academy’s Research Fellowship scheme is now open for applications. In brief, it’s a 5 year fully funded post-doctoral Research Fellowship scheme aimed at the best early career researchers. Applications are welcome from all engineering disciplines and applicants should have up to 3 year’s post-doctoral experience at the time of application.   Full details are available on the website Here The application and assessment process is the same as last year, being a Stage 1 outline application followed by a Stage 2 full proposal. Most universities are limited to two applications each, some are allowed 3 based upon past success in the scheme – a list of which universities can submit three applications is on the website.We expect to receive in the region of 80 applications and to award 8 Fellowships. The submission deadline for Stage 1 is Monday 31 October 2011. If you have any questions on the scheme please contact either Angus Baker The Academy’s Research Fellowship scheme is now open for applications. In brief, it’s a 5 year fully funded post-doctoral Research Fellowship scheme aimed at the best early career researchers. Applications are welcome from all engineering disciplines and applicants should have up to 3 year’s post-doctoral experience at the time of application.   Full details are available on the website Here The application and assessment process is the same as last year, being a Stage 1 outline application followed by a Stage 2 full proposal. Most universities are limited to two applications each, some are allowed 3 based upon past success in the scheme – a list of which universities can submit three applications is on the website. We expect to receive in the region of 80 applications and to award 8 Fellowships. The submission deadline for Stage 1 is Monday 31 October 2011. If you have any questions on the scheme please contact either Angus Barker or Rob Barrett Research Exchanges 4 Nov 11 The next round of the of the Research Exchanges with China and India scheme run by The Royal Academy of Engineering is now due to start. The scheme provides funding to enable researchers in engineering departments at UK universities to spend time at academic centres of excellence in China or India, and academic engineering researchers in China or India to spend time at a UK university. Awards support visits of 3-12 months and should be part of longer-term efforts to build UK-China/India partnerships. The aim of the scheme is to support international research collaborations and strengthen networks of excellence in engineering research. The deadline for applications is 4 November 2011. Please do not hesitate to contact Radhar Babbar if you require any further information or have any queries regarding this scheme. Further information including application forms and notes for guidance are also available at Here Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Awards 8 Nov 11 Jointly funded by the Wolfson Foundation and BIS, this scheme aims to provide universities with additional support to enable them to attract to this country, or retain, respected scientists of outstanding achievement and potential. Awards are made to the university and as such researchers must remain at the university named on the application. The focus of the award is a salary enhancement. Research expenses are also considered for research costs not suitable for Research Councils' research grants applications and for overseas applicants to support integration into the UK research and funding environment. Eligibility: Applicants can be of any nationality and must hold, or be guaranteed, a permanent post at a UK university.  All applicants must have their basic salary wholly funded by the university. Length of tenure: Five years funding after which the award holder continues with the permanent post at the host university. Place of tenure: UK university.  Please note that these awards are made to the host university and cannot be transferred to another university. Value: Salary enhancements have been made usually in the range of £10K to £30K per annum.  Website link: royalsociety.org/Wolfson-Research-Merit-Awards/ Closing date for approved applications:  08 November 2011 Research Awards top