IGMS: Dynamic Models in Synthetic Biology

合成生物学是一个介于工程、科学和数学之间的新兴领域。它涉及设计、建造和分析新的生物系统，最终目标是使其能够在健康、材料和能源方面得到有益的应用。合成生物学的一种方法是从了解基本成分和系统地增加复杂性开始，一步一步地，首先了解较简单的网络，然后将这些知识整合到了解较复杂网络的功能中。这种方法的一个关键要素是发展数学模型，这些模型可用于分析和预测基本组件的动态行为，以及了解组件在组合在更复杂的系统中时如何相互作用。在IGMS的资助下，PI将花一年的时间参观加州大学圣迭戈分校生物工程系的系统生物动力学实验室。她的东道主将是实验室的负责人杰夫·哈蒂斯博士和列夫·齐姆林博士。在系统生物动力学实验室的物理基础上，将允许PI与那里的研究人员进行日常互动。在这方面，特别重要的是有机会与进行实验的人互动，以便可以通过实验结果了解数学模型和相关分析，反之，可以通过分析数学模型来了解实验的设计。IGMS的拨款将使PI获得新的知识和经验，将她的研究扩展到合成生物学的应用。特别是，它将使她能够参与合成生物学的跨学科研究，指导合成生物学的本科生和研究生，并指导数学博士学生在合成生物学应用方面的项目。

Synthetic biology is an emerging field lying at the interface of engineering, science and mathematics. It is concerned with the design, construction and analysis of novel biological systems, with the ultimate goal of enabling beneficial applications in health, materials and energy. One approach to synthetic biology begins with understanding basic components and systematically increasing complexity, one step at a time, first understanding simpler networks before integrating that knowledge into understanding the functioning of more complex ones. A key element of this approach is the development of mathematical models that can be used in analysing and predicting the dynamic behavior of fundamental components, as well as in understanding how components interact when combined in a more complex system.The PI, Dr. Ruth Williams, a Professor in the Mathematics Department at the University of California, San Diego, has extensive experience with mathematical analysis and control of complex stochastic network models arising in non-biological applications such as manufacturing, computer science and telecommunications. Under the IGMS grant, the PI will spend a year visiting the Systems Biodynamics Lab in the Bioengineering Department at UCSD. Her hosts will be the leaders of the lab, Drs. Jeff Hasty and Lev Tsimring. Being physically based in the Systems Biodynamics Lab will allow the PI to interact on a day-to-day basis with researchers there. Especially important in this regard will be the opportunity to interact with those performing experiments, so that mathematical models and associated analyses can be informed by the results of experiments and conversely the design of experiments can be informed by the analysis of mathematical models. The IGMS grant will enable the PI to acquire the new knowledge and experience to expand her research to applications in synthetic biology. In particular, it will enable her to participate in interdisciplinary research in synthetic biology, to mentor undergraduate and graduate students in synthetic biology, and to direct mathematics Ph.D. students on projects with applications in synthetic biology.