Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biological Informatics for FY2001

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This action funds an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biological Informatics for FY2001. The fellowship supports research and training at the postdoctoral level at the intersection of biology and the informational, computational, mathematical, and statistical sciences. The goal of the fellowship is to provide training to a young scientist in preparation for a career in biological informatics in which research and education will be integrated. There is an increasing need for training in biological informatics at all occupational levels, and it is expected that Fellows trained through these fellowships will play important roles in training of the future workforce.The research and training plan for this fellowship is entitled "How does neural activity instruct the system-wide modifications in brain structure that occur during development of the visual system?" Spontaneously generated "retinal waves" are required for early visual system development. This research uses a combined theoretical and experimental approach to determine (1) how physiologically relevant neural input causes appropriate modifications at individual retinogeniculate synapses, and (2) how these retinal-wave-driven modifications result in system-wide competition that drives retinogeniculate development.