The 2018 NIMBioS Undergraduate Research Conference at the Interface of Biology and Mathematics

美国国家数学与生物合成研究所（NIMBioS）将于2018年10月27日至28日在田纳西州诺克斯维尔举办第十届年度“数学与生物学界面的本科生研究会议（URC）”。自2009年以来，该会议展示了本科生在数学生物学方面的研究成果，为学生提供了一个在支持他们的同龄人面前练习科学演讲技巧的机会，并为学生提供了一个与有相似兴趣的人交流的场所。此外，两场由数学和生物学研究领域的领导者邀请的讲座为学生提供了对该领域当前研究的见解。大约100名与会者将参加这次会议，其中许多人来自数学和生物学领域传统上代表性不足的群体。所有学生参与者都有机会展示他们选择的研究演讲或海报。该活动加强了数学科学和生命科学学科之间的交流，因为许多项目都是由数学和生命科学专业的学生团队提出的。从参加会议的生命科学专业的学生那里听到，他们的眼睛进一步开阔了，看到数学的有用性，在生物学问题上取得了令人兴奋的进展，数学专业的学生也受到启发，因为他们遇到了以前不知道的数学工具的新应用。NIMBioS URC的主要目标是为来自全国各地的本科生提供机会，与同行和教师导师分享他们在生物学和数学领域的研究。有50到70个学生的演讲和海报。学生的摘要将被收集成一本课程手册，并在会议网站上发布。学生们展示他们自己的工作，使用数学、统计和计算方法来解决分子生物学、生物化学、流行病学、免疫学、生态学和其他领域的挑战性问题。他们的工作来自夏季或学年的研究经验，这些研究经验得到了各种机构的支持，包括美国国家科学基金会（NSF）、美国国家卫生研究院（National Institutes of Health）、美国国家安全局（National Security Administration）或通过他们自己的机构，从而允许来自不同项目的想法相互交流。作为附带的好处，教师导师的研究项目通过分享最新研究的信息和形成新的联系而丰富。会议的第二个目标是为学生提供有关职业和研究生院的信息以及建立关系网的机会。会议将举办一个关于就业机会的小组讨论，一个研究生展示，以及通过共享用餐、频繁休息和有组织的社交活动提供丰富的社交机会。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS) will host its tenth annual "Undergraduate Research Conference (URC) at the Interface of Mathematics and Biology" from 27 - 28 October 2018, in Knoxville, Tennessee. Since 2009, the conference has showcased undergraduate research in mathematical biology, has provided students a chance to practice their scientific presentation skills in front of a supportive audience of peers, and has given students a venue to network with others having similar interests. In addition, two invited lectures by leaders in research at the interface of mathematics and biology provide students with insights into current research in this area. About one hundred participants will attend the conference, many from traditionally underrepresented groups in mathematics and biology. All student participants have the opportunity to present their choice of a research talk or poster. The event strengthens exchanges between the mathematical sciences and life science disciplines, as many of the projects are presented by student teams of math and life science majors. It is not uncommon to hear from life science students attending the conference that their eyes have been further opened to the usefulness of mathematics for making exciting progress on biological questions, and for mathematics students to be inspired by encountering new applications for their mathematical tools of which they were previously unaware.The NIMBioS URC's primary objective is to provide opportunities for undergraduates from across the country to share their research at the interface of biology and mathematics with peers and faculty mentors. Between fifty and seventy contributed student talks and posters are featured. Student abstracts will be gathered into a program book and published on the conference website. Students present their own work that uses mathematical, statistical and computational approaches to address challenging questions in molecular biology, biochemistry, epidemiology, immunology, ecology, and other areas. Their work comes from summer or academic year research experiences supported by a variety of agencies including NSF, the National Institutes of Health, the National Security Administration or through their home institutions, thus allowing for cross-pollination of ideas from different programs. As a side benefit, the research programs of the faculty mentors are enriched by the sharing of information about recent research and forming new connections. The conference's secondary goal is to provide students with information on careers and graduate school and opportunities to network. The conference will host a panel discussion on career opportunities, a graduate school showcase, and ample networking opportunities through shared meals, frequent breaks, and an organized networking activity.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.