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SUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISAT
Events for March 26, 2012
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CENG Seminar
Mon, Mar 26, 2012 @ 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Natasa Miskov-Zivanov , University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University
Talk Title: âDynamic behavior of cell signaling networks - design and analysis of qualitative modelsâ
Abstract: One of the ultimate goals of systems biology is to be able to predict a systemâs dynamic behavior. At the same time, a greater understanding of how components interact to form integrated systems also informs and supports efforts in synthetic biology towards designing engineered biological systems. To this end, modeling and analyzing the dynamics of biological regulatory networks is a promising approach, but existing modeling methods often suffer from complexity issues and become inefficient with large networks.
In this talk, I will describe a methodology for designing and studying discrete models of cell signaling networks by utilizing engineering methods. This modeling approach allows for capturing a large network, which is otherwise hard to model and analyze using alternative approaches based on ordinary differential equations. This network can include cell stimulation and receptor signaling, signal transduction from receptors to activation of gene transcription factors, and cell response to stimulation. Although such coarser-grained models do not always include all mechanical details, they allow for very efficient studies of the system. These models help identify critical elements and connections, and provide means to test many hypotheses about the system. Specifically, I will present the model for T cell differentiation, which is critical in many immune-related pathologies. The determinants of the differentiation are not yet understood, and the analysis of the model led to new insights into this system: identification of key elements and regulation links, and the fact that relative timing on different pathways plays a crucial role in differentiation. Finally, I will also present a hardware-based approach, which allows for highly parallel model simulation and provides orders of magnitude speedup when compared to software simulation.
The methodology for discrete model design and analysis leverages the interactions between engineering and biology and will contribute to more efficient development of previously unattainable products, new strategies in medical research, and new therapies.
Biography: Natasa Miskov-Zivanov is a Research Associate in the Department of Computational and Systems Biology in the School of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, and an Adjunct Faculty at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. She received her Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, in 2008 and 2005, respectively, and a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of Novi Sad, Serbia, in 2003. Her research interests include applications of computational methods, algorithms and tools for systems and synthetic biology, emerging technologies, bio-nanotechnology, and cyber-physical systems.
Host: Dr. Alice Parker
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Estela Lopez
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BME 533 (Seminar in Biomedical Engineering)
Mon, Mar 26, 2012 @ 12:30 PM - 01:50 PM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Elizabeth Read,
Talk Title: Natural Immunity to HIV: Genetic Determinants versus Stochastic Dynamics
Host: BME Department
Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 122
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Mischalgrace Diasanta
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EE-Electrophysics Seminar
Mon, Mar 26, 2012 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Zhifeng Ren, Department of Physics, Boston College, Massachusetts
Talk Title: Nanomaterials, Physics, and Applications in Clean Energy Research
Abstract: Physics is the foundation of sciences. Materials are the building blocks of the modern technologies. A deep understanding of the physics of materials is the key to energy research. Energy demand grows more and more, but the natural sources that provide the needed energy are shrinking and also unfortunately pollute the earth. Determining how we can efficiently utilize the abundant solar energy at low cost and without pollution is our responsibility to our children.
Nanomaterials have many potential applications in energy conversion systems due to their special structural and physical properties. Such applications often require materials to be manufactured at large scale and low cost. I will first discuss the role materials play in high temperature superconductivity; then the physics and manufacturing of nanostructured bulk thermoelectric materials at large scale and their improved thermoelectric properties by a low cost ball milling and hot pressing process; followed by our most recent demonstration of solar energy conversion into electricity at low cost using the improved nanostructured thermoelectric materials; and, finally, some new concepts, including nano coaxial cables, super-absorbers, and super-electrodes for high efficiency conversion of solar energy to electricity by the solar photovoltaic effect.
Biography: Dr Zhifeng Ren is currently a professor of physics at Boston College. He obtained his PhD degree from the Institute of Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1990, master degree from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in 1987, and bachelor degree from Sichuan Institute of Technology in 1984. He was a postdoc and then research faculty at SUNY Buffalo (1990-1999) before joining BC as an associate professor in 1999. He specializes in materials synthesis and applications especially thermoelectric materials, solar thermoelectric devices & systems, photovoltaic materials & systems, carbon nanotubes & semiconducting nanostructures, nanocomposites, bio agent delivery & bio sensors, superconductors, etc. He is a fellow of APS and AAAS, a recipient of R&D 100 award. He has published extensively, and was ranked the 49th of the top 100 Materials Scientists worldwide for the past decade 2000-2010. He has co-founded companies in the field of carbon nanotubes, thermoelectric materials, and photovoltaics.
Host: EE-Electrophysics
More Info: http://ee.usc.edu/news/seminars/eepLocation: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Marilyn Poplawski
Event Link: http://ee.usc.edu/news/seminars/eep
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GOPA IT Consultants Inc.
Mon, Mar 26, 2012 @ 05:30 PM - 07:30 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Career Connections
Workshops & Infosessions
Please join GOPA IT Consultants to learn about career opportunities in fast growing areas of SAP Enterprise Cloud Computing, System Virtualization and SAP Transportation Management at GOPA IT Consultants.
Location: Grace Ford Salvatori Hall Of Letters, Arts & Sciences (GFS) - 106
Audiences: All Viterbi
Contact: RTH 218 Viterbi Career Services
