NSF Student Travel Grant for DNA24: The 24th International Conference on DNA Computing and Molecular Programming

一年一度的DNA计算和分子编程国际会议一直是具有不同背景(如计算机科学、物理、化学、生物和数学)的科学家聚集在一起展示他们最高质量的研究和讨论新想法的主要跨学科论坛之一，旨在为在活细胞内外开发合成系统的工程建立新的分子编程规则。该提案旨在为将于2018年10月8日至12日在济南中国举行的第24届DNA计算与分子编程国际会议提供学生差旅支持。通过资助美国学生的旅行，组织者积极鼓励和激励新一代研究人员从参加会议中受益，通过鼓励学生参加会议、展示他们的工作并与该领域的其他重要参与者互动，促进下一代分子程序员的发展。最多15名成功的学生申请者将得到支持，向在会议上作口头或海报演讲的妇女和代表性不足的少数族裔提供援助，并向因其他原因无法负担参加这次会议的研究生提供援助。向美国公民和美国院校的学生提供该奖项的情况将包括在会议公告和征集申请中。这次高度跨学科的会议强调了连接计算、生物学和纳米技术的主题，并吸引了计算机科学、数学、化学、分子生物学和纳米技术领域的研究人员。该奖项的范围包括：构建纳米结构的分子折叠和自组装的控制；使用生物分子展示开关、门、设备和电路；分子马达和分子机器人；体外和体内的计算过程；容错和纠错研究；合成生物学和体外进化；用于分析、模拟和设计的软件工具；在工程、物理、化学、生物和医学方面的一系列应用。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

With a vision to establish novel molecular programming rules for engineering for developing synthetic systems inside or outside of living cells, the annual International Conference on DNA Computing and Molecular Programming has been one of the premier interdisciplinary forums where scientists with diverse backgrounds (e.g., in computer science, physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics) come together to present their highest quality research and discuss new ideas. This proposal aims to provide student travel support for the 24th International Conference on DNA Computing and Molecular Programming (DNA24), to be held at Jinan, China during October 8-12, 2018. By funding travel for U.S.-based students, the organizers are actively encouraging and incentivizing a new generation of researchers to benefit from participating in the conference, fostering the development of the next generation of molecular programmers, by encouraging students to attend, present their work, and interact with other important players in the field. Up to 15 successful student applicants will be supported, by providing assistance to women and underrepresented minorities who are delivering oral or poster presentations at the conference, and to graduate students who are otherwise unable to afford attending this conference. The availability of the awards to US citizens and students at US institutions will be included in conference announcements, soliciting applications. This highly interdisciplinary conference emphasizes topics that bridge computation, biology, and nanotechnology and attracts researchers in the fields of computer science, mathematics, chemistry, molecular biology, and nanotechnology. The scope includes control of molecular folding and self-assembly to construct nanostructures; demonstration of switches, gates, devices, and circuits with biomolecules; molecular motors and molecular robotics; computational processes in vitro and in vivo; studies of fault-tolerance and error correction; synthetic biology and in vitro evolution; software tools for analysis, simulation, and design; a range of applications in engineering, physics, chemistry, biology, and medicine.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.