Internal Research

The NSF-Simons NITMB Internal Project Grants involve new collaborations between theorists and experimentalists and will address one or more of the Institute's research themes. Grants will be solicited once per year.

Emergence of Bistability in Circadian Clock Temperature Response

Michael Rust

(University of Chicago)

Principal Investigator

Aaron Dinner

(University of Chicago)

Collaborator

Quantifying Natural Movement Variation in the Brain and Behavior

Stephanie Palmer

(University of Chicago)

Principal Investigator

Jason MacLean

(University of Chicago)

Collaborator

Uncovering the Genetic Fitness Landscape Behind Bacterial Motility in Complex Environments

Jasmine Nirody

(University of Chicago)

Principal Investigator

István Kovács

(Northwestern University)

Collaborator

Learning Rules of Epithelial Tissue Dynamics

Margaret Gardel

(University of Chicago)

Principal Investigator

Cara J. Gottardi

(Northwestern University)

Collaborator

Vincenzo Vitelli

(University of Chicago)

Collaborator

DNA as a Carbon Reservoir: Spatiotemporal Modeling of Extracellular DNA (eDNA) Dynamics in Biofilms

Arthur Prindle

(Northwestern University)

Principal Investigator

David Chopp

(Northwestern University)

Collaborator

Natural Motion and Optimal Prediction in a Complete Retinal Population

Gregory W. Schwartz

(Northwestern University)

Principal Investigator

Stephanie Palmer

(University of Chicago)

Collaborator

Understanding Synaptic Wiring Rules in the C. Elegans Brain

István Kovács

(Northwestern University)

Principal Investigator

Engin Özkan

(University of Chicago)

Collaborator

Modeling and Analysis of Synchronous Behavior in Biological Systems

Daniel Abrams

(Northwestern University)

Principal Investigator

Guy Amichay

(Northwestern University)

Collaborator

Keeping Growing Clocks in Sync

Rosemary Braun

(Northwestern University)

Principal Investigator

Michael Rust

(University of Chicago)

Collaborator

What’s the Place for Planning?

Malcolm MacIver

(Northwestern University)

Principal Investigator

Daniel Dombeck

(Northwestern University)

Collaborator

Matthew Kaufman

(University of Chicago)

Collaborator

Bradly Stadie

(Northwestern University)

Collaborator

A Theory of Models for Complex Ecology

Seppe Kuehn

(University of Chicago)

Principal Investigator

Madhav Mani

(Northwestern University)

Collaborator

Inferring Models for Microbial Dynamics

Stefano Allesina

(University of Chicago)

Principal Investigator

Niall Mangan

(Northwestern University)

Collaborator

Mary Silber

(University of Chicago)

Collaborator

Rebecca Willett

(University of Chicago)

Collaborator

Topological Analysis of Biological Data

Samantha Riesenfeld

(University of Chicago)

Principal Investigator

Shmuel Weinberger

(University of Chicago)

Collaborator

Richard Carthew

(Northwestern University)

Collaborator

Inverse problem of inferring adaptive strategies from the statistics of rare events

Arvind Murugan

(University of Chicago)

Principal Investigator

Yogesh Goyal

(Northwestern University)

Collaborator

A new mathematical theory for fluctuations, anticipation and response in non-equilibrium

Suriyanarayanan Vaikutanathan

(University of Chicago)

Principal Investigator

Petia Vlahovska

(Northwestern University)

Collaborator

Towards the Molecular Basis of Graft Compatibility: Full-Scale Network Study

Adilson Motter

(Northwestern University)

Principal Investigator

Nyree Zerega

(Northwestern University)

Collaborator

Linking gene expression profiles to firing properties in the Drosophila thermosensory circuit

William Kath

(Northwestern University)

Principal Investigator

Marco Gallio

(Northwestern University)

Collaborator

Proposals

Proposals may be submitted for funds for 12 months of support at most:

• 2.0 FTE graduate research assistants or 1.0 FFTE graduate research assistant plus 1.0 FTE postdoc, and

• $10,000 direct costs for materials and supplies.

Proposals include: a four-page research proposal; a statement about how the research will develop new mathematics that impacts biology; a mentoring and DEI plan; a budget using an internal template; a budget justification; biosketches in NIH or NSF format for all investigators. Proposals should directly address the Merit Review Criteria and conform to the funding policies detailed below.

Merit Review Criteria

1. Alignment with the research themes of the NITMB

2. The extent to which the research will develop new mathematics.

3. The extent to which the research will make significant advances in biological understanding.

4. How well the research integrates theory and/or mathematics and biology, with investigators providing complementary expertise.

5. Collaborations between theorists and experimentalists are preferred, but projects are not required to have an experimental component and may use pre-existing datasets.

6. Collaborations between researchers at Northwestern University and the University of Chicago are preferred (though not required).

7. The quality of the mentoring plan for trainees.

8. How well the proposal articulates how they will further NITMB DEI goals and best practices.

Policies

1. Investigators must be NITMB members and their collaborators at Northwestern University or the University of Chicago. Women and members of traditionally underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

2. Funds can be used to support the stipend/salary/fringe of graduate RAs and postdoctoral scholars. Funds cannot be used to support faculty, research staff, or administrative staff. Funds cannot be used to purchase capital equipment. No more than $10,000 (direct costs) may be spent on experimental supplies and services. Funds cannot be used to purchase computer equipment or purchase/lease software. Travel funds are allocated through a separate travel grant process and should not be included in the internal grant application.

3. The term of funding is 12 months. There is a competitive renewal process by which awardees may request another 12 months and commensurate funding. Renewal will depend on the Merit Review Criteria evaluated above as well as progress made towards project goals, and the engagement of the project’s investigators in NITMB activities (education, outreach, convenings, etc.).

Award Faculty Requirements and Deliverables

• Participation in thematic group convening activities, such as research-in-progress meetings, emerging directions works, short and long program workshops.

• Final or annual written progress report documenting a) progress towards developing new mathematics and other key research findings, b) future directions, c) publications, pre-prints, posters, and/or conference papers, d) new external funding that resulted from award, e) effort, level of support, and research tasks of trainees supported.

• Financial reporting due according to funding agencies deadlines. Mentorship of more junior scholars and summer undergraduates is expected.

• Any software, datasets, or models resulting from supported research must be made publicly available, well-documented, and easily accessible when published as preprint or paper; such materials will be posted on the NITMB web page, Github, Datajoint, Dryad, etc.

• Each team must also produce a publicly accessible blog, social media post and/or video abstract for each publication resulting from the proposed research. The above artifacts will be evaluated during the competitive renewal process if sought.

• The principal investigators are required to attend the annual NITMB Conference. They are required to present their project research at an NITMB convening activity.

• All papers and conference presentations resulting from the funded work are expected to acknowledge the NITMB award.

• Participation in periodic evaluation activities, such as and not limited to, interviews, surveys, and focus groups.

Award Faculty Requirements and Deliverables

• Participation in the following activities is required: Thematic Group Research in Progress meetings, seminars, Convening Program Workshops, and at least one Long Program, Training sessions and tutorials: ad hoc, Annual Conference attendance and poster presentation

• Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training must be completed within one year.

• Mentorship of more junior scholars and undergraduates is expected.

• Participation in periodic evaluation activities, such as and not limited to, interviews, surveys, and focus groups.

Procedures

Timeline:

Release call for applications 09/15/23 (earlier after 2023)
Application deadline 10/24/23 (or similar after 2023)
Evaluation complete 11/15/23 (or similar after 2023)
Project start date 01/01/24 (or similar after 2023)

Application: a four-page research proposal; a statement about how the research will develop new mathematics that impacts biology; a mentoring and DEI plan; a budget using an internal template; a budget justification; biosketches in NIH or NSF format for all investigators. The proposal should address all the merit review criteria described above and list the names of the personnel to be supported (if known at the time of application). If supplies are requested, include a short itemized budget in the justification.

Pre-screening of applications will occur to ensure that they are complete and conform to eligibility requirements.

Each application will be reviewed by two NITMB committee members, one theorist and one experimentalist. A common rubric/scoring system will be used for all applications. The committee will meet to debate and rank the applications based on the merit criteria. Our evaluation criteria will be grounded in the principles outlined at https://seedfund.nsf.gov/resources/review/merit-review/, without the focus on commercial impact. The committee will include one member whose task is to ensure DEI best practices are carried out in the ranking process.

The committee recommends applications to be funded to the Deputy Director for Research. Once approved, the awarded applicants will be notified. The applicants who were not awarded funds will receive a one-page summary of their review and will be encouraged to apply as part of a subsequent call for proposals.

Funding recipients must otherwise contribute to NITMB training and/or programming efforts.

Any changes in the project budget must be requested by the principal investigators for approval by the NITMB before changes are made.