From: Chris Taylor
Sent: 09 October 2006 01:17
To: Chris Taylor
Subject: CS_Newsletter_2006-10-09.doc

 

 

MANCHESTER

           1824

School of Computer Science

Weekly Newsletter

9 October 2006

Contents

News from HoS

Announcements

This Week

School Events

External Events

Funding Opps

Prize & Award Opps

Research Awards

Staff News

Vacancies

 

Links

Newsletter Archive

School Strategy

School Intranet

School Seminars

ESNW Seminars

NaCTeM Seminars

 

News from Head of School

Preparation for RAE 2008

Everyone who is (or may be) eligible to be returned in RAE 2008 should have received an email from Ursula this week, regarding the selection of staff for inclusion in the University’s submission.  The overall process is set out in the University’s Code of Practice.  The first step is to make provisional decisions about who will and will not be included in the University’s return, applying the criteria set out in Section 7 of the Code of Practice, informed by data held in the School RAE database.  The University has set a deadline of 31 October 2006 for finalising the evidence base for these decisions.  It is thus important that all academic staff, and those who have been nominated as independent researchers, ensure that, by that date, their entries in the database present their research in the best possible light.    Also, if any of these staff believe there are circumstances which may have affected their research during the assessment period, as set out in sections 10 and 11 of the Code of Practice, they should let John Gurd know, in confidence, by the same date.  Provisional decisions on inclusion/non-inclusion will be made in consultation with the EPS Associate Dean for Research, and the University Vice President for Research, and will be communicated to the staff concerned by the 31st January 2007.  The final submission will be made on 30 November 2007 and decisions will not be finalised until shortly before that date.  I realise that this request comes at what is already a busy time, but I’m sure you all appreciate the importance to the School of maximising our RAE performance.

Call for UG & PG Examination Papers                                                      27 Oct 06

If you are teaching a CS course this semester, which has assessment by examination, you need to set the paper now! The final deadline is Friday October 27th.  Papers and marking schemes should be handed in to Jennie, room 2.12.  The exam period for both UG and PG will be 15th-26th January 2007. Please inform Jennie/John Sargeant if the exam is to be online.  Arrangements for Informatics courses will be handled through SoI.

New Arrival

Congratulations to Clare Swann who worked in the CS Finance Office until the end of July. She gave birth to a baby girl, weighing  8lb 3oz, on the 18th September.  Mother and baby (name still undecided) are both doing well.

 

Events this Week                                                               top

Retrenchments, Refinements, and the Mondex Electronic Purse    11 Oct 06

Dr Richard Banach, School of Computer Science

1415, Lecture Theatre 1.5, Kilburn Building

More Information

Semi-Parametric Regression of Genetic Pathway Data                       11 Oct 06

Semi-parametric Regression of Multi-Dimensional Genetic Pathway Data:  Kernel Machines and Mixed Models

Xihong Lin, Professor of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health

1300, Room C.18, Ferranti Building, Sackville Street

More Information

Learning, Communities, and Media – Planning Meeting New             11 Oct 06

The School's Learning Technology Unit, is organising Planning meeting for a workshop series on Learning, Communities, and Media. The series will be concerned with convergences between Learning and e-learning,Social software, New media-capable hardware devices,Interactive broadcast media, Community formation and maintenance, Increased inclusion and the growth of social capital.  To date we have colleagues from Education, MBS and NCeSS attending that meeting.  Contact Mark van Harmelen if you wish to attend.

1500, Atlas 1, Kilburn

Virtual Organisation Membership Services                                             13 Oct 06

An overview of the Virtual Organisation Membership Service and how it is being deployed for GridPP and the National Grid Service.

1400, Room 1.10 ESNW Access Grid, Kilburn Building

More Information

Regular Seminar Series

See links in contents bar for information on seminar series organised by the School of CS, E-Science North West and National Centre for Text Mining.

 

Future School Events                                                        top

Managing Large-Scale Scientific Workflows  New                                 18 Oct 06

Challenges of Managing Large-Scale Scientific Workflows in Distributed Environments

Dr Ewa Deelman. USC Information Sciences Institute

1415, Venue TBC

More Information

Respecting Relevance in Belief Change New                                          25 Oct 06

Prof David Makinson. King's College London

1415, Lecture Theatre 1.5, Kilburn Building

More Information

Research Students' Symposium New                                                     1-3 Nov 06

Each year the School holds a Research Students' Symposium, which features a collection of talks and posters by research students. 

More Information

 

Future External Events                                                      top

Innovative & Interdisciplinary Research in Photon Science  New     18 Oct 06

This event will give PSI Members and Associates a chance to network, share research experiences, review the Institute's research strategy, and contribute to the development of the business and technical support processes to support innovative and interdisciplinary research.

1215 – 1630, Simon Building,

Programme & Registration

Stochastic Modelling of Biological Networks New                                 19 Oct 06

Prof Alan McKane, School of Physics and Astronomy, UoM

Organised by the BioModelling Network which aims to bring together researchers who are active in the area of Biological Modelling. For further information contact Frank Bruggeman.

1400 – 1700, MIB Lecture Theatre

The HPC European User Forum  New                                              26 & 27 Oct 06

The HPC User Forum is an initiative developed by IDC to promote the interests of High Performance Computing users in industry, government and academia. Attendance is free but places must be reserved.

The Midland Hotel, Manchester

Registration & More Information

New Techniques in High Resolution Laser Spectroscopy  New         8 Nov 06

Professor Wolfgang Demtroder (PSI Fellow 2006)

1430, Moseley Lecture Theatre, Schuster Building

More Information

Climate Warming / Climate Change                                                            9 Nov 06

Sir David King, Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government

1430-1530, Whitworth Hall.  Email Lesley Sisson for tickets.

Expanding Your Horizons New                                                                    9 Nov 06

A one-day conference for fixed-term researchers

Professor Simon Gaskell, Vice President (Research)

Professor Nigel Vincent, Vice President (Graduate Education)

Dr Iain Cameron, RCUK and UKHerd Task Force Member.

Plus presentations and discussions with former fixed term researchers who have gone on to achieve excellence in academia and beyond. Places are strictly limited and can be reserved by contacting Susan Hogan.

0900 – 1600, Chancellors Conference Centre

More Information

Young Engineers Presentations – House of Commons                     17 Nov 06

The annual poster presentation for Young Engineers at the House of Commons, coorganised by SET for Britain, is an opportunity to bring the work of the School to a different and important audience, enhance your CV and, potentially, win a prize.  It is relevant to all PhD students and junior RAs in the School, and those who have attended in the past have thoroughly enjoyed the event.

More Information

Grantsmanship Workshop                                                                         29 Nov 06

This popular one day course is aimed at both new staff and more established members of staff who have not had recent interactions with the EPSRC either as applicants, grant holders or referee/panel members.  To register your interest please email Louise Rogers

 

Funding Opportunities                                                       top

Leonardo da Vinci Programme for Staff Exchange                              10 Oct 06

For the exchange of expertise, competencies, innovative methods and practices in relation to vocational training.  Exchanges do NOT need to involve two-way movement of staff.  Deadline for use of the funds and completion of exchanges has been extended.

More Information

RAEng/EPSRC Research Fellowships                                                     13 Oct 06

The Royal Academy of Engineering and EPSRC are jointly offering up to ten Research Fellowships.  These fellowships provide five years funding to enable outstanding researchers from all branches of engineering to establish an independent research career, normally shortly or immediately after completing their PhD.

More Information

Research Council Follow-on-Funds                                                         27 Oct 06

There is a call for proposals to be submitted to BBSRC and NERC for ‘Follow-on-Funding’. This funding is designed to bridge the gap between academic and industrial research, specifically for commercialisation projects.  Proposals need to be submitted via UMIP and generally require significant input from UMIP on the commercial exploitation and potential.

More Information

ESF Research Networking Programmes                                                 30 Oct 06

Bringing together nationally funded research activities for four to five years, to address a major scientific issue or a science-driven topic of research infrastructure, at the European level with the aim of advancing the frontiers of science. 

More Information

Royal Society Research Grants                                                                  1 Nov 06

Seed corn funding for new projects. For research scientists at an early stage of their career or established scientists wishing to change the direction of their research. 

More Information

Royal Society University Research Fellowships 2007                          1 Nov 06

More Information

EPSRC 2007 Senior Research Fellowships                                             1 Nov 06

Applications are invited for the 2007 Senior Research Fellowships exercise.  Senior Research Fellowships are awarded to outstanding academic scientists and engineers of international repute with a minimum of 10 years post doctoral experience.  Fellows will be released from their current teaching and administration loads to devote themselves to research for the period of the award (up to 5 years). 

 More Information

AHRC-EPSRC-JISC e-Science Research Projects Scheme                2 Nov 06

EPSRC is a partner in this new e-Science Initiative. The aim of the scheme is to advance research in the Arts and Humanities through the use and development of e-Science technologies.  In addition to a total budget of £2 million, six four-year PhD project studentships are available either as part of an e-Science Research Grant or as a stand alone.

More Information

EPSRC 2007 Advanced Research Fellowships                                      9 Nov 06

Applications are invited for the 2007 Advanced Research Fellowships exercise.  Advanced Research Fellowships are awarded to outstanding researchers with between 3 – 10 years of postdoctoral experience. Fellows are expected to devote themselves to research for the period of the award (up to 5 years), with the expectation that they will have established an independent research career of international standing by the end of the award.  Approximately 50 of these awards are made each year.

More Information

Teaching & Learning (T&L) Innovation Funding                                  20 Nov 06

The third round of bids for Teaching and Learning Funding for Schools is now open. Please contact Pete Jinks (the School Learning Enhancement Officer) if you are interested.

More Information

BBSRC Systems Biology (SABR)                                                            27 Nov 06

Recently, the BBSRC announced a new Systems Biology call.  As Manchester already has a Systems Biology Centre (MCISB, see www.mcisb.org), we are in a very good position to apply for funding.  Dieter Weichart, on behalf of Prof. Doug Kell (Director of the MCISB), would like to take the initiative in coordinating potential SABR bid(s) from the University (but not bids to the related ESB initiative).  If you are interested in participating in a proposal please send a brief (few sentences) response to Dieter Weichart, cc to Douglas Kell outlining your proposed research.

More Information

International Research Mobility Scheme New                                        30 Nov 06

Research opportunities from one week to six months in the US, China and mainland Europe for staff and postgraduate students.

More Information

IBM-UoM Partners Programme                                                                  30 Nov 06

Last year Kung-Kiu Lau became one of the first “University of Manchester-IBM Partners”. Academic staff are now invited to apply for the 2007/8 scheme.  It is important to the School that we grasp this opportunity to engage with the company, who have much to offer all our activities.

More Information

Royal Society Conference Grants                                                               1 Dec 06

The conference grants scheme supports UK based scientists to either present their own paper/poster or chair a session at an overseas conference, where conference participation is the main or sole purpose of visit. The objectives of this scheme are to enable scientists to disseminate research findings, establish collaborations and build international reputations.

More Information

Leverhulme Trust Research Leadership Awards                                   1 Dec 06

To support researchers confronted with the task of building a research team of sufficient scale to tackle an identified but distinctive research objective.  Each award will be at a level of up to £800,000 in total for up to five years of work. The intent is that the funds be used to provide each awardee with ten 'post-doctoral assistant years' and ten 'research student years' for the grant period, though other patterns would be permissible.

More Information

Toshiba Fellowhips                                                                                      15 Dec 06

Toshiba in association with the EPSRC invites applications from European scientists to join one of its high technology research teams in Japan.

More Information

EPSRC ICT Platform Grants                                                                               Open

EPSRC invites outline proposals for its information and communication technology platform grants. Platform grants aim to provide world-leading UK groups with continuity of funding for strategic development, longer-term research and international networking.

More Information

Royal Academy of Engineering Research Chairs                                        Open

The Royal Academy of Engineering invites applications for its research chairs. 
Research Chairs are full-time professorial appointments, in any engineering-related subject. The academy particularly welcomes proposals of a multidisciplinary nature. Funding is provided for 5 years.

More Information

RAEng Industrial Secondment Scheme                                                          Open

An opportunity for university lecturers in engineering to gain state-of-the-art industrial experience.

More Information

BBSRC International Scientific Interchange Scheme (ISIS)                       Open

To help scientists make and establish new contacts with their international counterparts.

More Information

RAEng Global Research Awards                                                                      Open

Projects in centres of excellence overseas focussing on stimulating wealth creation and improvements in the quality of life.

More Information

EPSRC Engineering Visits                                                                                  Open

Support for salary costs and travel subsistence for scientists and engineers of acknowledged standing, either from within the UK or abroad, to visit the investigator's organisation.

More Information

 

Prize and Award Opportunities                                          top

We have acknowledged the need to raise the profile of the School both nationally and internationally.  Nominating individuals for awards, and working actively with others to ensure that deserving individuals are nominated is one way of doing that.

ACM Turing Award                                                                                         31 Oct 06

ACM's most prestigious technical award is accompanied by a prize of $100,000. It is given to an individual selected for contributions of a technical nature made to the computing community. The contributions should be of lasting and major technical importance to the computer field. Financial support of the Turing Award is provided by the Intel Corporation.

More Information

ACM Grace Murray Hopper Award                                                             31 Oct 06

A prize of $15,000 awarded to the outstanding young computer professional of the year.

More Information

Computer Science Writing Competition 2006/07                                   31 Jan 07

We want unpublished articles of up to 750 words about research that’s part of any EPSRC-funded computer science project.  For this competition, computer science means the study of methods for acquiring, storing, processing, communicating and reasoning about information, and the role of interactivity in natural and artificial systems through the implementation, organisation and use of computer hardware, software and other resources.

More Information

 

Research Awards                                                               top

None this week

 

Staff News                                                                           top

Awards and Promotions

None this week

Academic Arrivals

None this week

Technical Arrivals

None this week

Academic Retirements

None this week

Research Arrivals

None this week

Research Departures

None this week

Administrative Arrivals

None this week

Administrative Departures

None this week

Sabbatical Leave

Alasdair Rawsthorne: 80% secondment to Transitive Technologies
Oct 06 – Sep 07.

Alvaro Fernandes: IBM Almaden Research Centre US
Jul 06 – Dec 06.

Milan Mihajlovic: University of Maryland, College Park

Jul 06 – Dec 06

 

Vacancies                                                                            top

Academic Staff

None

Research & Technical Staff

Software Developer in Electronic Assessment (ABC)

More Information

Management & Professional Staff

None

Administrative Staff

None