ph.d. scholarship (4 years)

Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Belgium)

The impact of voluntary principals and agents on npo governance and
performance: a theoretical study

This study's aim is to develop micro-economic models of organisational
behaviour explicitly taking the presence of volunteers into
consideration. Therefore, the researcher will be selected on the basis
of the assessment of her/his thorough knowledge of (and preferably
experience in) theoretical micro-economics.

The models to be developed fit into the aforementioned principal-agent
framework (see Bénabou and Tirole (2003) as an example of the approach
to be taken), and will depart from the confrontation of organisational
and individual utility functions. Important arguments in the individual
utility functions will be the effort of the volunteer, her attachment to
the organisational goals and her attachment to the clients’ goals (for
the introduction of this distinction, see our previous work in Caers et
al. (2006b)), her inclination to shirk, and the possibility of
alternative activities. The impact on organisational performance will be
analytically assessed. Given the expected amount of analytical
difficulties to be met due to the complexity of the utility functions
involved (see also Caers et al., 2005, 2006a), the modelling effort is
planned to gradually evolve from simpler cases to more realistic ones,
as is traditional for this kind of work. In the next paragraphs we
describe a preliminary structure of this work.

The first year, after having reviewed the literature, the ‘simpler’
models will be constructed. We will model organisations with only
operational volunteers (the other categories of persons involved being
professionals), then with only managerial volunteers, and then with only
voluntary board members. These first models will concentrate on the
agency costs without bonding and monitoring, which will be introduced
later on. Volunteers will be modelled as utility maximisers, therefore
not necessarily exclusively pursuing organisational goals. Agency costs
then are the differences between the performance levels obtained, and
the ‘first best’ levels. Clearly, performance based reward schemes,
which play an important role in the governance literature on profit
organisations, are not relevant here.

In the second year, we will first introduce bonding and monitoring in
the models developed in the first year, monitoring reflecting essential
aspects of organisational governance. Furthermore, we will also consider
volunteers still to be present at only one level in the organisation,
but now together with paid staff members. Also, models with only
volunteers at two of the three levels described above will be conceived.

In year three the most comprehensive models will be derived: volunteers
at all levels, together with professionals at all levels, leading to a
set of empirically testable hypotheses, to be verified in the fourth
year, at least within one large organisation grouping both paid staff
members and volunteers at all levels.

For further information: Marc Jegers, VUB, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussel,
Belgium 00 32 2 629 21 13 marc.jegers @ vub.ac.be website:
www.vub.ac.be/MICE

BIOINFORMATICS POSTDOC


Topic:

Pathway-based tumour characterisation by alignment against
cell
panels along multiple molecular dimensions.


Research:

Astra Zeneca Oncology has constructed large cell panels to serve as in
vitro models for drug response. These cell panels have been extensively
characterized by mutation analysis, mRNA expression, aCGH, response to a wide
variety of drugs, micro-RNA expression and phosphoprotein characterization. In
parallel, the same measurements are being performed on a collection of
colorectal samples. In this project two aims are pursued. First, a comparative
analysis will be performed between the cell line data and the tumor data to
determine the multi-dimensional molecular states spanned by the cell lines and
whether these states faithfully recapitulate the space spanned by a
representative and clinically relevant selection of tumor samples. Guided by
this mapping and by following a pathway-based approach, integrative modeling
will be applied on the cell line panel data to construct models predictive of
resistance.


Job description:

The successful candidate will be responsible for the bioinformatics
analysis of the cell line and tissue data. More specifically, these tasks
include 1) constructing a comprehensive gene list of the PI3K and ERK network;
2) Molecular characterisation of the colorectal cell panel and tumour samples
through integrative analysis of the various data sources within the space
spanned by the identified network genes and 3) Pathway-based alignment of cell
panel to tumours to determine the extent to which the cell panel recapitulates
the heterogeneity in the tissue set.


Location:

The position is embedded within the Bioinformatics and statistics group
lead by Dr Lodewyk Wessels (http://bioinformatics.nki.nl) at the
Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam and the Oncology Informatics group,
Discovery Medicine, Astra Zeneca, Alderley Park, UK lead by Dr Tim French. We
plan to have regular meetings, and the postdoc will also spend time at both
locations.


Requirements:

Candidates should fulfill the following criteria.
- MSc or PhD in
one of the following areas: bioinformatics, engineering, computer science,
statistics, physics, biotechnology, or biology.
- Knowledge of
fundamental aspects of cancer biology, especially signalling
pathways.
- Knowledge of fundamental aspects of computer science
(algorithms and data structures, programming languages).
- Knowledge or
experience of informatics.
- Knowledge of statistics, artificial
intelligence or bioinformatics is highly desirable.


Conditions of Employment:

The successful candidate will be employed by the Netherlands Cancer
Institute. The employment conditions follow general employment rules as laid
down in the 'CAO' for hospitals. The salary will be determined depending on
education and experience.


Contact and Applications:

Dr. Lodewyk Wessels, tel. +31 20 512 7987 or e-mail: l.wessels@nki.nl or Dr Tim French Discovery Medicine, Cancer
Bioscience, tel. +44 1625-519922 or e-mail: Tim.French@AstraZeneca.com. Applicants should send a CV, list of
publications and the names and addresses of at least two persons that can be
approached to obtain further information.


Website:

http://bioinformatics.nki.nl


Closing date:

30 January 2009


L.F.A.Wessels, Ph.D
Bioinformatics and Statistics
The
Netherlands Cancer Institute
Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam
The
Netherlands
Tel: +31 (0)20 5127987
Fax: +31 (0)20 6691383
Mobile: +31
(0)634485714
http://bioinformatics.nki.nl/
L.F.A.Wessels, Ph.D
Bioinformatics and Statistics
The
Netherlands Cancer Institute
Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam
The
Netherlands
Tel: +31 (0)20 5127987
Fax: +31 (0)20 6691383
Mobile: +31
(0)634485714
http://bioinformatics.nki.nl/

M.S./Ph.D. Studies in Information Systems at UC Irvine

The faculty of the Information Systems Group (ISG) at UC Irvine is looking
for a handful of excellent prospective students who are seeking an exciting,
active place to study and do research on databases and information systems
starting in the Fall of 2009. Several large projects are underway and
several new ones are just beginning and will provide excellent opportunities
for incoming students to "get in on the ground floor" of interesting new
research initiatives.

ISG is a part of the CS Department within the Bren School of Information
and Computer Sciences at UC Irvine, an environment that offers a number of
unique advantages and opportunities. Being one of just a handful of such
schools across the country, ICS offers a broad, stimulating intellectual
environment for graduate studies. ICS is comprised of three departments -
Computer Science, Informatics, and Statistics - covering all traditional
computer science areas as well as related areas such as software
engineering,
human-computer interaction and usability, collaboration technologies, and
statistical machine learning and data mining and analysis.

UC Irvine itself, in the words of our current chancellor, "combines the
strengths of a major research university with the bounty of an incomparable
Southern California location." Thus, in addition to a stimulating research
and educational environment, graduate study in ISG at UC Irvine offers
attractive off-hours opportunities. Our location in Orange County
(http://www.visitorangecounty.net) offers easy access to a wide variety
of outdoor and indoor entertainment and sporting activities.

More information about graduate study in CS at UC Irvine can be found on the
UCI CS graduate studies page (http://www.ics.uci.edu/computerscience/grad).
The application period is open now and applications will be accepted through
January 15, 2009. More specifics about ISG, its faculty, and its projects
can
be found on our new ISG web site (http://isg.ics.uci.edu). Check us out!
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The Faculty of Information Technology, Mathematics, and Electrical
Engineering (IME) at the Norwegian University of Science and
Technology (NTNU) invites applicants for 8 PhD research fellowships.

The 8 research fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis, to help
recruit talented candidates for the PhD study programs administered by
IME.

The Faculty is keen to attract the best candidates available and puts
few restrictions on training background and fields of
research. Applicants must however contact a relevant research group at
IME and name a prospective thesis advisor prior to submitting their
application.

Further information about the announcement and instructions for
application: http://www.idi.ntnu.no/about/description_jobs.php?id=152

Possible thesis advisors within the database area:
http://www.idi.ntnu.no/grupper/db/

Applications should be submitted to the Norwegian University of
Science and Technology, Faculty of Information Technology, Mathematics
and Electrical Engineering, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway, or by e-mail to
application@ime.ntnu.no. Applications should be marked IME-056-2008.

Closing date: February 16th 2009.

PhD scholarships


Giessen University's International Graduate Centre for the Study of Culture (GCSC), funded by the German federal government's Excellence Initiative, offers a three-year structured PhD-programme in the study of culture. With its excellent research environment, a doctoral programme which is tailored to the needs of PhD students and the intensive personal support it provides, the Graduate Centre offers postgraduate students optimum conditions for their PhD-projects and a custom-made preparation for the time thereafter, both with regard to academic and non-academic careers.
From 01st October 2009, the GCSC offers

up to 9 PhD scholarships.

PhD scholarships include a monthly stipend of approximately €1000 and are offered for one year with the possibility of two extensions, each of a year. Scholarships commence on October 1st, 2009.

Acceptance of a scholarship requires participation in the study programme and the wide-ranging events offered by the GCSC, as well as active involvement in at least one GCSC graduate research group. Scholarship holders must register as PhD students at Justus Liebig University. There are no tuition fees for doctoral students at JLU, except for an enrolment fee of approximately €200 per semester. Scholarship holders are expected to take up residency in or near Giessen.

The GCSC encourages applications from graduate students who have or expect to obtain a first or upper second class honours M.A.-degree (or equivalent) in one of the GCSC's academic subjects* or in the arts/humanities, cultural studies, or social sciences. Fluency in either English or German is required.

The main selection criteria are the candidates' academic qualification, the academic quality of the research proposal and the suitability of the project for the GCSC's research programme. Short-listed candidates will be invited to a 30-minute interview; telephone interviews can be arranged for candidates from overseas.

The closing date for applications is 1st March, 2009. All applications (including an application form and further documents as stated on the GCSC website) have to be submitted online. Please find further information on the two-stage application procedure on our website at http://gcsc.uni-giessen.de/application.

If you have any questions concerning your application, please contact us at gcsc-application@uni-giessen.de. On 2nd February 2009, the GCSC will host an Information Day at the Graduate Centre for the Study of Culture (GCSC), Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, Alter Steinbacher Weg 38, 35394 Gießen. The Information Day gives potential applicants the opportunity to meet the staff and students involved in the doctoral programme. You will also have the chance to obtain more information on the research areas and academic objectives of the GCSC, the wide range of interdisciplinary courses, colloquia, and conferences, the research support on offer, our international networks and partner institutions, as well as on publishing and funding opportunities available to GCSC-members.

*) see www.uni-giessen.de/gcsc or http://gcsc.uni-giessen.de/research

PhD Opportunities
Cluster of Excellence for "Religion and Politics"
Up to ten PhD opportunities available in the
Cluster of Excellence for "Religion and Politics"
at the University of Münster, Germany
An exciting opportunity exists for potential PhD students
to fill up to ten positions by April 1, 2009 in the
interdisciplinary Cluster of Excellence for "Religion
and Politics in Pre-Modern and Modern Cultures" at the
Westfälische Wilhelms-University, Münster,
Germany. The Cluster involves a large number of academics
from the areas of History, Catholic and Protestant
Theology, Jurisprudence, as well having capacity in the
areas of Islamic Studies, Philosophy, Philology, Political
Science, and the Sociology of Religion. Projects in the
Cluster are grouped around four themes: Normativity,
Staging, Integrative Procedures, and Violence. Further
information about specific projects can be found at: www.religion-und-politik.de
There are currently up to ten positions available in the
Graduate School within the Cluster. Each of these positions
is attached to a stipend based on half a E13 TV-L position
(approximately € 900 per month). Initially the
positions are available for two years, with an extension of
a further year possible. Besides from working on their own
projects, PhD students are expected to participate in the
planning and organization of conferences as well as the
running of workshops within the Graduate School. These
workshops are expected to cover such areas as theory,
methods, lectures, and the interpretation of source
material.
We are seeking students fluent in German who have
demonstrated exceptional ability in the Humanities,
Cultural Studies, Social Sciences, Law/Jurisprudence, or
Theology/Religious Studies. Furthermore we are particularly
interested in attracting students who have demonstrated
high competence in interdisciplinary studies, have proven
their ability to communicate their research to a variety of
forums, and have the potential to establish themselves in
international arenas. Applicants are requested to provide a
five page description of their intended project (including
a bibliography). It is expected that the project will
complement the research aims and also one or more of the
themes of the Cluster. Applicants with appropriate research
topics from all eras of history, across a wide range of
study areas, geographical locations, and themes will be
considered. However, we are particularly interested in
receiving expressions of interest from applicants
interested in antiquities or the nineteenth and early
twentieth centuries.
We explicitly encourage women to apply. The applications of
women with equal aptitude, qualification and academic
achievements will be given priority, provided there are no
prevailing reasons to the contrary that arise from a
competing candidate's personality. Severely handicapped
candidates with equal qualifications will be preferred.
Please send your application, including cover letter, CV,
copies of transcripts, a project description, and two
academic references by January 31, 2009 to the Coordinator
of the Graduate School in the Cluster of Excellence:
Ms Julia Simoleit
Graduate School in the Cluster of Excellence "Religion
and Politics in Pre-Modern and Modern Cultures",
Westfälische Wilhelms-University Münster
Johannisstraße 1-4
D - 48143 Münster, Germany

Please direct any further enquiries to Julia Simoleit (Julia.simoleit@uni-muenster.de).