IGERT: Computational Molecular Biology Training Group

该综合研究生教育和研究培训（IGERT）奖支持建立计算分子生物学教育和研究的多学科研究生培训计划。由于分子生物学在过去15年中的进步，生物学问题现在可以在新的复杂程度上解决。可以采用全系统分析方法，而不是剖析生物系统的各个组成部分。这种范式转变的一个关键因素是大量基因组序列和表达数据的可用性。爱荷华州州立大学将建立一个计算分子生物学培训小组，为研究生提供探索复杂生物学问题的必要技能。该小组将由25名具有不同专业领域的研究人员组成，包括进化、分子和结构生物学、计算机科学、数学和统计学。学生将接受培训，从基因组序列和表达数据中识别生物信息，并将专注于四个相互关联的研究领域：基因组学，生物信息学，基因组进化，大分子结构和功能。通过注入数学和计算机科学的分析视角在生物科学的培训，爱荷华州州立大学将创造一个令人兴奋的学习环境，在其中准备后基因组学时代所提出的挑战和机遇的学生。IGERT是一个NSF范围内的计划，旨在促进建立创新，以研究为基础的研究生课程，将培养一批多样化的科学家和工程师，为利用广泛的职业选择做好充分准备。IGERT为博士机构提供了一个开发新的，重点突出的多学科研究生课程的机会，这些课程超越了组织界限，并将来自多个部门或机构的教师联合起来，为培训和研究建立一个高度互动，协作的环境。在该计划的第二年，该奖项将颁发给21个机构，这些机构的项目涵盖了NSF支持的所有科学和工程领域。该奖项由生物科学局、计算机和信息科学与工程局、数学和物理科学局（多学科活动办公室）以及教育和人力资源局提供资金支持。

This Integrative Graduate Education and Research Training (IGERT) award supports the establishment of a multidisciplinary graduate training program of education and researchin computational molecular biology. Due to advances in molecular biology over the past fifteen years, biological questions can now be approached at new levels of complexity. Rather than dissecting individual components of a biological system, system-wide analytical approaches can be pursued. A critical factor in this paradigm shift has been the availability of vast amounts of genomic sequence and expression data. Iowa State University will establish a Computational Molecular Biology Training Group to provide graduate students with the necessary skills to explore complex biological questions. This group will be composed of 25 investigators with diverse areas of expertise, including evolutionary, molecular and structural biology, computer science, mathematics and statistics. Students will be trained to discern biological information from genome sequence and expression data and will focus on four interrelated areas of research: genomics, bioinformatics, genome evolution, and macromolecular structure and function. By infusing training in the biological sciences with the analytic perspective of mathematics and computer science, Iowa State University will create an exciting learning environment in which to prepare students for the challenges and opportunities presented by the post-genomics era.IGERT is an NSF-wide program intended to facilitate the establishment of innovative, research-based graduate programs that will train a diverse group of scientists and engineers to be well-prepared to take advantage of a broad spectrum of career options. IGERT provides doctoral institutions with an opportunity to develop new, well-focussed multidisciplinary graduate programs that transcend organizational boundaries and unite faculty from several departments or institutions to establish a highly interactive, collaborative environment for both training and research. In this second year of the program, awards are being made to twenty-one institutions for programs that collectively span all areas of science and engineering supported by NSF. This specific award is supported by funds from the Directorates for Biological Sciences, for Computer and Information Science and Engineering, for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (Office of Multidisciplinary Activities), and for Education and Human Resources.