Systems
Biology
Centre IPCR
Research Interests
Teaching Job vacancies Grants
Publications
Applied
Maths
page
Nigel Burroughs
Professor in Systems Biology,
Mathematics Institute and Warwick Systems Biology
Centre,
University of Warwick,
Coventry. CV4 7AL. UK.
Tel: 024 76524682.
Email:
N.J.Burroughs @
warwick.ac.uk
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.
Research interests
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
Teaching
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.
Postdocs and Jobs
Also
look
at the Warwick
Systems
Biology web site, there may be opportunities there.
Currently I have 1 PDRA, 3 open PDRA posts (above) and 4
PhD students-
- Mudassar Iqbal. Working on motifs in S.
coelicolor and their use as a predictor of gene expression.
- Ed Morrissey. (PhD) Working
on
Bayesian
methods
of
gene-protein
network
inference.
Submitting
April
2011.
- Anthony
Carter. Uncovering the blueprint for nodulation by
single-cell nitrogen and node factor assays.
- Ed
Harry. Chromosome Navigation: Finding the Way to the Spindle
Equator.
- Jo
Hulsman. Systems analysis of the host- and cell- specificity of the
plantís response to symbiotic vs pathogenic bacteria.
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).
Grants
My research is funded from EPSRC, BBSRC and the Leverhulme
Trust as follows
- MAGIC - A multi-tiered approach to generating increased carbon
dioxide in the chloroplast. A transatlantic project funded by
BBSRC/NSF. Partners include Mike
Blatt (Glasgow, PI UK), Julian
Hibberd (Cambridge), John
Golbeck (Penn State, PI USA), Cheryl
Kerfeld (Berkeley)
- Comparative cell-specific profiling to understand the molecular
basis of nodulation. BBSRC. PI Miriam
Gifford (Warwick Life Sciences, WHRI campus).
- Unravelling the impact of the mite Varroa destructor on the
interaction between the honeybee and its viruses.
BBSRC/NERC/Defra/Wellcome Insect pollinators initiative. PI David
Evans (Warwick Life Sciences, WHRI campus).
- SYSMO programme on Global
metabolic switching in Streptomyces
coelicolor. An EU wide consortium. BBSRC.
Previous grants have included:
- Quantification, modelling and analysis of molecular dynamics,
patterning and signalling in the NK synapse. BBSRC. A joint grant with
2 experimental groups lead by Dan Davis (Imperial)
and Anton van der
Merwe (Oxford).
- Mathematical Architecture of Cell regulation. IPCR. EPSRC/BBSRC
- Spatial dynamics and gene regulation of a bacteria-protozoa
ecology,
EPSRC/BBSRC joint mathematical modelling initiative.
- Immunological synapse modelling BBSRC/EPSRC
- Life and death of T-lymphocytes, BBSRC.
- Modelling stochastic activation of T cells, EPSRC.
- Horizontal gene transfer in the streptomycetes. BBSRC.
- Human migration analysis (MCMC). Leverhulme Trust.
- Spatial heterogeneity and the evolution of insecticide
resistance.
BBSRC.
Top Research
Interests Teaching The
Group Grants Jobs Publications
Applied
Maths
page
http://www.maths.warwick.ac.uk/~njb