Project Biomass of the dept Theoretical Biology
The name Biomass stands for Biomathematical Assessments.
The Department for Theoretical
Biology of the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam participates with
project Biomass in the Netherlands Center for Environmental Modeling. This
inter-institutional center focuses on emission, transport and
transformation of chemical compounds, bioavailability,
toxico-kinetics, effects on individual organisms, populations &
ecosystems, life cycles.
- Advise on the solution of problems in mathematical and
computational biology:
optimal setup of experiments and bioassays,
most cost-effective sampling strategies,
data analysis, mathematical modeling,
statistical analysis (parameter estimation, statistical testing),
computer simulation studies
- Stimulate the development of applications of Dynamic Energy
Budget (DEB) theory for metabolic organization of living systems
and the actual application in practice to solve problems in the
fields of ecotoxicology, risk assessment, nutrition, medical biology
and biotechnology
- Stimulate communication and interaction with companies and
governmental institutions to orient academic fundamental research at
the department of Theoretical Biology to practical problems in
society
- Offer talented scientists opportunities to contribute to the
solution of practical problems using their biological knowledge, and
to interact with experts in the field
- Contribute to the center of excellence on environmental modeling,
including dispersal, fate and effects of toxicants
- Organize courses for specialized audiences in the field activity
of the project, and more generally in the application of
mathematics and computer science in biology
The project starts the activities in the field of ecotoxicity and
environmental risk assessment, leaving food technology, nutrition,
biomedical and biotechnological extensions for possible future developments.
The core activities of Biomass are
- Analysis of
-
Prediction of transport and fate of chemicals in the environment
and possible effect scenarios
These activities include
- statistical evaluations (such as uncertainty analysis)
- application of existing models and the formulation of new models
- production of software
- organization of specialized courses, meetings, workshops etc in
the scientific field of the project
The core activities together comprise the main elements of an
environmental risk assessment for chemical compounds; the guidance and
updating of files for approved chemicals belongs to the core
activities as well.
Auxiliary activities are evaluation of
- experimental ecotoxicity work
- notification and registration reports for new chemicals
- environmental risk assessments
Possible clients of the project include chemical industries and
governmental institutions.
The project has two possible modes of operation
- Partnership Partners can buy hours of project personnel;
they can consider this personnel as being their own, posted in the
department of Theoretical Biology. Restrictions on possible tasks of
this personnel apply in the sense of general consistency with the
aims of the project. Partners can ask department personnel in the
project to attend particular meetings, to take courses etc, but the
financial implications are for the partners. The person with which
the partner interacts is identified, the details of tasks are under
control of the partner. Restrictions on availability of information
can be part of a contract between the partner and the
department. This type of partner-project interaction is typically
for several years, after a try-out period
- Clientship
The client can offer a particular problem for solution by the
department. The details of the problem, the time schedule, the type
of report, and the financial costs are problem-specific, and will be
discussed with the client. The work is organised in a project and the
relationship ends with the completion of the project
The department can involve other parties (such as the Center for
Environmental Modeling or contract laboratories) in solving
scientific problems.
- availability of highly skilled personnel on part-time basis, who
can work in an academic environment that offers them support for
know-how and labour (via students)
- link with a scientifically respected independent party in
traffic between client and governmental institutions, in particular
between chemical industry and RIVM. The RIVM will not do research by
order of chemical industries in view of its independent position;
the department has good contact with RIVM and academical
institutions
- access to young talents (VU students) via traineeships
Please contact Bas Kooijman for further information.
BMecb,
BMexxon,
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