21st International Conference on DNA Computing and Molecular Programming

生命运行在一种硬件上，这种硬件由包含分子成分的细胞和由写在分子中的信息和程序编码的软件组成。随着对自然分子程序的理解和进一步为工程和开发合成系统建立新的分子编程规则的愿景，一年一度的DNA计算和分子编程国际会议已经成为具有不同背景的科学家(例如；计算机科学、物理、化学、生物和数学领域的专家们聚集在一起，展示他们最高质量的研究成果，并讨论新的想法。该提案旨在为2015年8月17日至21日在哈佛大学举行的第21届系列会议（DNA21）提供12,000美元的差旅费。这些资金的主要目的是为在会议上进行口头或海报演讲的学生提供援助。选择旅行奖获得者的过程除了支持高质量的研究报告外，还旨在优先考虑妇女和代表性不足的少数民族。来自各院校（不包括哈佛大学）的大约24名成功申请者将获得旅行和住宿资助，预计每位学生平均奖学金为500美元。目的是鼓励和激励新一代的研究人员参加会议。旅行奖将鼓励学生参加，展示他们的工作，并与该领域的其他重要参与者互动，从而有助于培养下一代分子程序员。参加会议的学生将有机会接触到预计将在顶级场所发表的工作的早期版本，此外，他们将有机会与正在制作最高质量工作的研究人员互动，并可能与他们合作。主题范围包括分子折叠和自组装以构建纳米结构的控制；用生物分子演示开关、门、器件和电路；分子马达和分子机器人；体外和体内的计算过程；容错与纠错的研究；合成生物学与体外进化；用于分析、仿真和设计的软件工具；以及在工程、物理、化学、生物和医学等领域的广泛应用。会议的第一天将专门进行包括动手实验在内的辅导课，这将帮助研究人员在新的研究领域建立坚实的基础。会议期间的演讲环节将是讨论最高质量的新成果和交流新思想的绝佳舞台，这将有助于推进知识和开发新技术。

Life operates on a hardware that is composed of cells enclosing molecular components and a software encoded by information and programs written in molecules. With the vision of understanding the natural molecular programs and further establishing novel molecular programming rules for engineering and developing synthetic systems, 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.; experts in computer science, physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics) come together to present their highest quality research and discuss new ideas. This proposal is for 12,000 USD to support student travel expenses for the 21st of the conference series (DNA21), to be held at Harvard University, August 17-21, 2015. The primary purpose of these funds is to provide assistance to students who are delivering oral or poster presentations at the conference. The process of selecting the travel award recipients is intended to give priority to women and underrepresented minorities, in addition to supporting quality research presentations. Approximately 24 successful student applicants, from institutions (excluding Harvard), will be funded for travel and accommodation, with an expected average award of 500 USD per student.The objective is to encourage and incentivize a new generation of researchers to attend the conference. The travel awards will help to foster 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. Students who attend the conference will get exposure to early versions of work that are expected to be published in top venues and, furthermore, they will have the opportunity to interact with, and potentially collaborate with, researchers who are producing work of the highest quality.The scope of topics 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; as well as a range of applications in engineering, physics, chemistry, biology, and medicine. The first day of the conference will be devoted to tutorial sessions including hands-on experiments, which will help researchers establish a solid basis in new research domains. The presentation sessions during the conference will be an excellent stage for discussing new results of highest quality and exchanging new ideas, which will contribute to advancing knowledge and developing new technologies.