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Standards of Evidence Working Group

Working Group Leader: Bert Baumgaertner

Group Members: Florian Justwan, Kendal Mitton, Chenangnon Tovissode

Originated: January 2023

Description:

This working group uses both modeling and empirical investigations to understand the role that evidentiary standards play when individuals evaluate claims. We are interested in the systematic ways standards of evidence differ across various types of claims (e.g. political vs scientific) and the determinants of these systematic differences, including base rates (priors) vs likelihoods, in-group vs outgroup, confirmation vs disconfirmation, prospective vs retrospective, and general public vs political elites.

Mathematical Immunology

Working Group Leader: Tanya Miura

Group members: Esteban Hernandez Vargas, Rodolfo Blanco Rodriguez

Originated: November 8, 2022

Description:

The Mathematical Immunology Working Group will develop mathematical models to explain the roles of immune responses during respiratory viral infections.

PIPP Molecular Modeling (MoMo)

Working Group Leader: Marty Ytreberg

Group Members: Jonathan Barnes, Jagdish Patel, America Chi

Originated: December 15, 2022

Description:

MoMo will brainstorm ideas to participate in the pandemic preparedness proposal that will be led by University of Texas, Austin.

Drug Discovery

Working Group leader: Marty Ytreberg

Group members: Matthew Bernards, Jagdish Patel, Paul Rowley, Kris Waynant, Jonathan Barnes, Brenda Schroeder, Leah Frye, Xiang Li, Srinath Pashikanti

Originated: February 2021

Description:

We will be brainstorming ideas on how the U of I can build a center that has a focus on drug discovery. Discussion includes possible focus areas, current expertise, gaps in knowledge/expertise and funding mechanisms.

Working Group on Belief Formation

Working Group leader: Holly Wichman

Group members: Jeff Bailey, Bert Baumgaertner, Jim Bull, Traci Craig, Florian Justwan, Craig Miller, Dilshani Sarathchandra

Originated: January 2021

Description:

Working Group on Belief Formation explores how beliefs and opinions are formed. This is approached from a multidisciplinary perspective. One goal is to foster logical thinking in our students.