CONF: Vole Workshop 2009 to be held in Atlanta, GA on February 28, 2009

这次研讨会将聚集大多数在研究中使用田鼠物种的研究人员，以促进生物学多个学科的合作研究。田鼠已成为理解行为生态学、进化生物学、遗传学和行为神经科学等相关过程的重要动物模型。由于田鼠交配系统的多样性（例如一夫一妻制与一夫多妻制），以及它们所占据的栖息地的多样性，田鼠提供了一个独特的机会来更好地了解行为如何适应不同的环境，以及基因和大脑化学物质如何产生行为的变化。使用田鼠作为动物模型的研究人员来自不同的学科，因此很少在其他科学会议上互动。研讨会的目标是促进来自不同学科的田鼠研究人员之间的合作，这将有利于所有研究领域。会议将包括来自高级研究人员、学生、博士后和青年科学家的一系列演讲。海报会议将允许所有参与者展示他们的工作，并让参与者在一个随意的环境中进行互动。学生和博士后研究员的参与将提供宝贵的交流机会，并使他们接触到该领域的最新技术进展，从而提供重要的培训机会。NSF提供的资金将主要用于为学生和年轻研究者提供旅行奖励和抵消场地费用。通过促进所有学科的受训者和教师之间的合作研究，该研讨会有望对田鼠研究产生重大影响。这将导致与行为生态学、进化、遗传学和行为神经科学的许多方面有关的发现加速，并在跨学科培训方面产生实质性的更广泛的影响。

This workshop which will gather most of the researchers that use vole species in their research in order to facilitate collaborative research across several disciplines of biology. Voles have become important animal models for understanding processes related to behavioral ecology, evolutionary biology, genetics and behavioral neuroscience. Because of the diversity in mating systems in voles (e.g. monogamy vs. polygamy), and the diversity of habitats that they occupy, voles provide a unique opportunity to better understand how behaviors adapt to different environments, as well as how genes and brain chemicals produce variation in behavior. Researchers using voles as animal models come from diverse disciplines and therefore rarely interact at other scientific meetings. The goal of the workshop is to foster collaborations among vole researchers from different disciplines, which will have a benefit all research fields. The meeting will consist of a series of talks from senior investigators as well as students, post-doctoral fellows and junior scientists. Poster sessions will allow all participants to present their work and for participants to interact in a casual setting. Participation by students and post-doctoral fellows will provide valuable networking opportunities and expose them to the latest technological advancements in the field, and therefore provide important training opportunities. The funds provided by NSF will be used mainly to provide travel awards to students and younger investigators and to offset the cost of the venue. This workshop is expected to have a significant impact on vole research by facilitating collaborative research between trainees and faculty across all disciplines. This will lead to an acceleration in discoveries relevant to many facets of behavioral ecology, evolution, genetics and behavioral neuroscience and a substantial broader impact in terms of interdisciplinary training.