Cross Scale Analytics
’This talk contributes a(n) X perspective to an exploratory discussion on units of analysis for natural systems and interdisciplinary applications of such models.’
Where X = microbiological; human; urban; terrestrial (presented in that order below)
Dr. Kate Adamala
Biological Control Systems
Dr Adamala is an Assistant Professor of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development at the University of Minesota. Her lab works on building tools for studying and controlling biology, using synthetic cells and protein engineering technologies. Combining top-down and bottom-up approaches to synthetic biology, their work expands current cell-free protein synthesis and RNA-binding protein technologies to build programmable synthetic minimal cell bioreactors, and interface with mammalian cells for readout of cellular states for developing better ways of optogenetic control. They also use synthetic cells as environment to reconstitute and study natural genetic pathways, and as a tool for developing novel ways of engineering genetic pathways.
Kate received a MSc in chemistry from the University of Warsaw, Poland, studying synthetic organic chemistry. In grad school, she worked with professor Pier Luigi Luisi from University Roma Tre and Jack Szostak from Harvard University. She studied RNA biophysics, small peptide catalysis and liposome dynamics, in an effort to build a chemical system capable of Darwinian evolution. Kate's postdoctoral work in Ed Boyden's Synthetic Neurobiology group at MIT focused on developing novel methods for multiplex control and readout of mammalian cells.
Dr. Fred Wulczyn
Data Analytics for Human Services
Fred Wulczyn is a Senior Research Fellow at Chapin Hall and director of the Center for State Foster Care and Adoption Data, a collaboration of Chapin Hall, the American Public Human Services Association, and other research partners. An expert in the analysis of administrative data, he was an architect of Chapin Hall’s Multistate Foster Care Data Archive and constructed the original integrated longitudinal database on children’s services in Illinois, now in use for more than 25 years. The databases he has developed give state administrators capacity to analyze key child welfare outcomes, compare outcomes across agencies and jurisdictions, project future service patterns, test the impact of policy and service innovations, and monitor progress.
Dr. Wulczyn received a Ph.D. from the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago. A graduate of Juniata College, he was awarded the distinguished Alumni Award for his contributions on behalf of children and families. He earned a M.S.W. from Marywood University, which honored him with its distinguished Alumni Award.
Elizabeth Bowie Christoforetti
Big Data for Small Places: Utilizing Emerging Quantitative Information for Improved Urban Quality.
Elizabeth Bowie Christoforetti is design director and founder of Supernormal, a practice that bridges the disciplines of architecture, urban design, and planning, with the goal of bringing increased sensitivity and systematization to urban development using improved quantitative methods. This approach requires careful attention to urban systems and the constraints of real estate development, and prioritizes methods of understanding and projecting change over time and change over location as first principles in design practice.
Elizabeth received a Master in Architecture with Distinction from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, where she now teaches design studios in the Architecture department. She also holds degrees from Bowdoin College and The Art Institute of Chicago. From 2014-2016, Elizabeth conducted research within the Social Computing Group at the MIT Media Lab, where she utilized emerging technologies to better align human experience with urban development.
Caryl Erin Johnson, PhD
Managing Dynamic Complexity, A Biomimetic Perspective
Dr. Johnson, an accomplished applied scientist, has pursued a 30-year career in science and science management, in government, academia, and the private sector. She has earned advanced degrees from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. from California Institute of Technology. An expert in modeling and simulation, system-of-systems engineering, and computational intelligence, her early work with the computer automation of regional and global seismic networks established the standard for such systems worldwide. She has served as a business leader for teams in government (scientist in charge, Southern California Seismic Network) and helped build business and technology teams (Science and Technology International). Previous work also includes tenured professor of Geology at the University of Hawaii and BAE Systems Engineering Fellow at BAE Systems, Inc. She is a Founder and Chief Innovation Officer of Introspective Systems LLC - an applied-science engineering firm building unique solutions to harness big data, based in Portland, Maine.