NSF PostDoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology

__该研究金支持一项研究和培训计划，名为？社交网络在收获蚁任务分配中的作用？关于Noa M品特-沃尔曼这项研究的主办机构是斯坦福大学，赞助科学家是Deborah M。戈登生物系统通过系统不同组成部分之间的相互作用进行自我组织。该研究考察了交互网络的结构如何影响蚁群的组织。 蚁群中的个体蚂蚁执行各种任务，如觅食、巡逻和维修巢穴，但每项任务的分配都是在没有中央控制的情况下进行的。以前的研究表明，蚂蚁使用其最近的互动经验，在任务决策中，以短暂的触角接触的形式。这项研究是跟踪网络的蚂蚁相互作用在实验室殖民地的收获蚂蚁使用微小的射频识别（RFID）连接到每个蚂蚁。实验和基于代理的计算机模拟正在被用来调查网络中的个人的角色。培训目标包括定量，计算和工程技能的发展。一种新的跟踪技术的发展将提供一种独特的方法，可应用于广泛的社会昆虫在实验室和现场。这项研究的更广泛的影响也将为指导本科生，与工程师和统计学家合作，并促进在生物学研究中使用定量和计算方法提供机会，这将扩大对社交网络和社会昆虫自组织的理解。

____________________________________________________________________________This action funds an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship for FY 2008. The fellowship supports a research and training plan entitled ? The role of social networks in task allocation of harvester ants? for Noa M. Pinter-Wollman. The host institution for this research is Stanford University and the sponsoring scientist is Deborah M. Gordon. Biological systems self-organize through the interactions between different components of the system. The research examines how the structure of interaction networks affects the organization of ant colonies. Individual ants within colonies perform various tasks, such as foraging, patrolling, and nest repair, but the assignment of each task is organized without central control. Previous work shows that an ant uses its recent experience of interactions, in the form of brief antennal contact, in task decisions. This research is tracking the network of ant interactions in laboratory colonies of harvester ants using tiny Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) attached to each ant. Experiments and agent-based computer simulations are being used to investigate the roles of individuals in the network. Training objectives include development of quantitative, computational, and engineering skills. The development of a novel tracking technique will provide a unique methodology that may be applied to a broad array of social insects both in the lab and field. The broader impacts of this research will also offer opportunities for mentoring undergraduates, collaborating with engineers and statisticians, and promoting the use of quantitative and computational methods in biological research that will broaden the understanding of social networks and self-organization in social insects.