Edited by Songthip Ounpraseuth, Biometrics Section Publications Officer

Wei Sun, 2013 Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM) Biometrics Section program chair, is collecting proposals for topic-contributed sessions. The meeting will be held August 3–8 in Montréal, Québec, Canada.

Topic-contributed sessions are organized around a central topic, the talks are longer (20 minutes rather than 15), and discussants may be included. All sessions consist of five speakers (e.g., four speakers and one discussant, three speakers and two discussants).

Topic-contributed panel sessions usually have 3–6 panelists, with one abstract for all speakers. Note that if each speaker wishes to provide an abstract, speak on a specific topic, and submit an individual paper for JSM Proceedings, then the session should be a paper session.

While the deadline for submitting topic-contributed session abstracts is February 2, proposals should be sent to Sun as early as possible.

Call for Proposals: Developing the Next Generation of Biostatisticians

Also, the section invites applications for funding to support innovative outreach projects focused on enhancing awareness of biostatistics among quantitatively talented U.S. students. Projects that will encourage students to pursue advanced training in biostatistics and provide generalizable models for outreach and/or materials that can be used by others are especially buy ativan overnight delivery wanted. The section anticipates funding up to three projects, with total funding of up to $3,000 per project.

A three-page application is due January 11, 2013. A project period with a start date no earlier than February 15, 2013, and an end date no later than December 31, 2013, also should be specified. Applications should be submitted electronically to the Strategic Initiatives Subcommittee chair, Roslyn Stone, at Roslyn@pitt.edu, in the following format:

• Title
• Objectives and specific aims
• Background, significance, and/or rationale
• Design and methods
• Budget

All investigators will be expected to submit a brief report at the conclusion of the project.

Allowable expenditures include supplies, domestic travel when necessary to carry out the project, professional expertise (e.g., instructional designer or webmaster), and cost of computer time. Expenditures that are not allowed include secretarial/administrative personnel, tuition, foreign travel, and honoraria and travel expenses for visiting lecturers to the investigator’s home institution.

New Section Officers

With the arrival of 2013, the section will have the following new set of officers:

• Dianne Finkelstein, past chair
• Janwen Cai, chair
• Mike Daniels, chair-elect
• Limin Clegg, Council of Sections representative
• Wei Sun, JSM program chair
• Donglin Zeng, Continuing Education chair
• Yu Shen, secretary/treasurer
• Feifei Wei, publications officer
• Doug Schaubel, ENAR chair