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Professor in Systems Biology,
Mathematics Institute and Warwick Systems Biology
Centre,
University of Warwick,
Coventry. CV4 7AL. UK.
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Photos: one of my stone sculptures and the making a gorilla bronze in Aberdeen.
I also have a website
at Warwick Systems Biology with publications,
and
more
accessible
content
for
the general
public.
My main research interests are mathematical
and statistical applications in cellular biology and systems biology,
being motivated by both theoretical issues and problems in the
analysis of biological data (fluorescence data and high throughput
data). For instance, spatial information is often
hard to extract from gfp images but can be very informative
for modelling, while high through-put data (gene expression,
proteomics, metabolomic data) remain highly challenging despite a
decade of research. I use a variety of modelling and data analysis
methods, including Modelling:
dynamical systems, partial
differential
equations, stochastic models (eg random walks, queueing theory), large
deviation
methods, Statistical computation
analysis methods:
Bayesian methods such as Markov chain Monte Carlo techniques, including
model comparison and selection methods.
My main projects at present are in immunology (NK synapse, T cell
signalling), cell biology (microtubules), inference of regulatory
gene-protein
networks using a
variety of data sources (data integration) and development of
algorithms for analysis of biological experiments (gfp data, FRAP).
immunology, cellular
biology, gene networks, Bee
project, Nodulation
project, photosynthesis project
I teaching a course in the new in the Warwick Systems Biology
doctoral training centre, Modelling
and
statistics
in
Systems
Biology.
Previously I have taught in the Mathematics degree programmes- Probability
Theory
in Bioinformatics, a 3rd year course covering dynamic programming,
graph theory and
Markov chains, Topics
in
Mathematical
Biology,
MA390, a third year course that is
essentially
a course on waves and stability analysis in biology, Mathematics
in
Medicine,
MA498, a fourth year course on mathematical immunology
and virology which I designed in 2000, and Variational
principles, a second year course.
Three PDRA positions are currenly available:
Research Fellow in Statistical analysis of honeybee viral immunity under mite infestation. Job advert link, job number 70471-031. Closes April 15th.
Research Fellow in Inference of the root nodulation gene regulatory network in legumes. Job advert link, number 71022-031. Closes April 15th.
Mathematical modelling of CO2 delivery and photosynthesis efficiency of the chloroplast. Job advert link, number 71023-031. Closes 15th April.
Also
look
at the Warwick
Systems
Biology web site, there may be opportunities there.
Research Programmes/Initiatives.
In early 2006 the Warwick
Systems Biology center was established bringing together expertise
in mathematics, statistics, biology and statistics. It has cell
regulation as its major theme with emphasis on data analysis
methodology, (neuro)physiology, plant science and signalling. In Oct
2007, a Systems
Biology DTC was launched (BBSRC funded).
A major Interdisciplinary Programme in Cellular regulation was launched in Oct 03 focussing on regulatory issues of cells at the genetic and cytosol levels. I am the programme manager responsible for the coordination and cohesion of the research program. An interdisciplinary post graduate training program, MOAC, also started in Oct 03.
We are always keen to expand our team, so contact me if you are interested in joining us. Systems Biology is a rapidly growing field with funding opportunities from EPSRC, BBSRC, PPARC, the Leverhulme Trust, the EU and the Wellcome Trust. I made the transition myself from Physics into Biological applications while on an EPSRC Advanced Fellowship (B/94/AF/1822).
My research is funded from EPSRC, BBSRC and the Leverhulme Trust as follows
http://www.maths.warwick.ac.uk/~njb
March 2011.