The Mathematical Sciences in Obesity Research

描述(申请人提供)：数学科学，包括工程学、统计学、计算机科学、物理学、计量经济学、心理计量学、流行病学和数学，越来越多地被应用于数学，以促进我们对肥胖的原因、后果和缓解的理解。这些应用程序不仅涉及在随处可得的商业软件中很容易实现的常规的、完善的方法。相反，它们越来越多地涉及计算要求很高的任务，使用新的分析方法和软件，在某些情况下还开发新的分析方法和软件，新的推导，计算机模拟，以及前所未有的两种或更多现有技术的交叉。在数学科学和肥胖研究的交界处取得这样的进展，需要对这两个学科的研究人员进行双边培训和接触。然而，没有持续的资源来提供这样的培训，大多数机构缺乏经常能够并确实跨越这些学科的科学家的榜样。拟议中的肥胖研究数学科学年度五天短期课程的特点是，一些世界上在该领域工作的最优秀的科学家通过提供九个主题驱动的模块来满足这一未得到满足的需求，这些模块旨在搭建学科之间的桥梁。每个模块都将从应用于肥胖研究的数学方法开始。在此介绍之后，将进行一次关于该方法的完整应用的讲座。在完成申请后，参与者将立即参与一个有指导的互动课程，使用软件或与模块主题相关的分析进行计算。最后，本单元以关于剩余未解决问题的讲座结束。为了认识到成功管理跨学科职业的挑战，短期课程的每一天都将包括两个小时的互动工作会议，由资深高级研究人员指导建立下一步。参与者可以选择利用这个互动会议开始开发一份摘要，提交给国家一级的肥胖会议，或者计划申请一个小型跨学科研究小组，在田纳西州诺克斯维尔的国家数学和生物合成研究所提出他们的想法。根据完成程度，将选出10名参与者在短期课程的最后一天展示他们的工作。NIH和整个科学界都表示需要在数学科学和关键生物医学领域的接口上进行更多的培训，我们要求有机会成为解决方案的一部分。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The mathematical sciences including engineering, statistics, computer science, physics, econometrics, psychometrics, epidemiology, and mathematics qua mathematics are increasingly being applied to advance our understanding of the causes, consequences, and alleviation of obesity. These applications do not merely involve routine well-established approaches easily implemented in widely available commercial software. Rather, they increasingly involve computationally demanding tasks, use and in some cases development of novel analytic methods and software, new derivations, computer simulations, and unprecedented interdigitation of two or more existing techniques. Such advances at the interface of the mathematical sciences and obesity research require bilateral training and exposure for investigators in both disciplines. Yet, no ongoing resource exists to provide such training and role models of scientists who regularly can and do traverse these disciplines are in short supply at most institutions. The proposed annual five day short course on the mathematical sciences in obesity research features some of the world's finest scientists working in this domain to fill this unmet need by providing nine topic driven modules designed to bridge the disciplines. Each module will begin with a mathematical method applied in obesity research. This introduction will be followed by a lecture on a completed application of the method. Directly after the completed application, participants will be engaged in a guided interactive session performing calculations using software or analysis pertaining to the module topic. Finally, the module closes with a lecture on remaining open questions. In recognition of the challenges in successfully managing an interdisciplinary career, each day of the short course will contain a two hour long interactive working session guided by established senior researchers in building the next step. Participants may choose to use this interactive session to begin develop an abstract for submission at national level obesity conferences or plan an application for a small interdisciplinary group of researchers to advance their ideas at the National Institute of Mathematical and Biological Synthesis in Knoxville, TN. Based on the degree of completion, ten participants will be selected to present their work on the last day of the short course. The NIH and the scientific community at large has voiced the need for more training at the interface of the mathematical science and key biomedical domains, and we request the opportunity to be part of the solution.