From owner-recom@hgmp.mrc.ac.uk Thu Nov 1 19:02:55 2001 Return-Path: Received: from localhost (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by mercury.hgmp.mrc.ac.uk (Postfix) with ESMTP id E3C0B17BAE for ; Thu, 1 Nov 2001 19:02:53 +0000 (GMT) Received: from localhost (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by mercury.hgmp.mrc.ac.uk (Postfix) with ESMTP id EF2D617BD8 for ; Thu, 1 Nov 2001 19:02:51 +0000 (GMT) Received: by mercury.hgmp.mrc.ac.uk (Postfix, from userid 60001) id E05BC17BAE; Thu, 1 Nov 2001 19:02:46 +0000 (GMT) To: recom@net.bio.net Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.recombination From: Animesh_Ray@kgi.edu (Animesh Ray) Subject: Postdoctoral Associate Position available Date: 27 Oct 2001 00:54:22 +0100 Message-Id: <20011101190246.E05BC17BAE@mercury.hgmp.mrc.ac.uk> Sender: owner-recom@hgmp.mrc.ac.uk Precedence: bulk My laboratory at the Keck Graduate Institute (www.kgi.edu) is seeking creative and independent postdoctoral researchers preferably with training in yeast molecular genetics and with interest in analysis of complex gene regulatory networks. The individual will lead experimental analysis of gene regulatory network by whole-genome mRNA expression profiling in wild type and mutant yeast strains. Candidates with prior experience in mRNA micro-array analysis will have an advantage. There will be opportunity for close interaction with a team of computational biologists. The NSF Program in Quantum and Biological Computing funds this interdisciplinary project, which aims to explore the basis of robustness in gene regulatory networks and apply the findings to the design of human communication network. (Please see below a project summary) KGI is located 35 miles east of Los Angeles, at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains. Its campus is contiguous with those of the other Claremont Colleges, which together with surrounding educational institutions in Southern California provide a rich intellectual and cultural environment. KGI is dedicated to innovative research and teaching at the forefront of applied biology, and its faculty, students, and associates have strong ties with the biotechnology industry. Prospective candidates should apply with a cover letter stating areas of research interest, enclose a CV, and ask for three letters of recommendation to be sent to me at: Keck Graduate Institute, 535 Watson Drive, Claremont, CA 91711. Email: Animesh_Ray@kgi.edu Animesh Ray Associate Professor Keck Graduate Institute 535 Watson Drive Claremont, CA 91711 phone: (909) 607-9729 fax: (909) 607-8086 e-mail: animesh_ray@kgi.edu Associate Professor Adjunct Division of Biology University of California San Diego & Visiting Associate Professor University of Rochester Rochester, NY Causes of Robustness and Vulnerability in Real-World Networks: Lessons From Molecular Biology PI: Animesh Ray Co-PI: David Galas, Gregory Dewey, Amarnath Gupta, Mitsunori Ogihara Summary Vulnerability of natural networks (such as the Internet, power supply grid, or molecular regulatory circuits of cells) to accidental or deliberate attack is an important area of study. Results from such studies provide guidelines for designing robust communication infrastructure that are more resistant to disruption. To date most work has focused on observations of existing static networks or on computer simulations, because most natural networks are difficult to manipulate experimentally. Prior work has revealed certain fundamental global properties common to all natural networks. This raises the possibility that the study of one representative natural network by direct experimental manipulation could illuminate general properties of most networks. Complex molecular machinery regulating the synthesis of RNA molecules in the nucleus of budding yeast, a single-celled organism, is a real-world instance of a natural network that can be experimentally perturbed by defined genetic manipulations, and the results of these perturbations can be studied at the molecular level with unprecedented accuracy by current genomic techniques. We propose to use this biological system to study the properties of a natural network as a function of precise disruptions, which will enable refinement of conceptual models by direct experiments. Systematic gene knockout mutations (equivalent to node removal), regulatory site deletion mutations (equivalent to edge removal), and artificially directed gene activation (equivalent to edge addition) will be used as tools to actively alter a network. Effects of this rich variety of perturbations in the gene regulatory network architecture will be analyzed at the level of whole-genome transcriptional profiles. Analysis of these transcriptional patterns will be complemented by queriable database-dependent computer simulation, and through existing knowledge base in yeast genetics. This interplay will allow basic properties of robustness and vulnerability of this complex natural network to be inferred through detailed hypothesis testing. Design principles underlying the architecture of these evolutionarily successful complex networks will be probed. Insights obtained from these studies will be valuable for defensive strategies in complex network design, with implications in, among others, communication technology, disaster response, and in designing robust communication infrastructure resistant to planned attacks. --- ===== Moderated bionet.genome.gene-structure ____________________________________________________________ Nokia Game is on again. Go to http://uk.yahoo.com/nokiagame/ and join the new all media adventure before November 3rd.