This action funds an NSF Minority Postdoctoral Research Fellowship for FY 2004. The goal of the fellowship is to increase the participation of minority scientists at the postdoctoral level and to prepare them for positions of scientific leadership in academia and industry. To attain this goal, the fellowship provides opportunities for postdoctoral training and research of the highest quality to recent doctoral recipients. It is expected that Fellows supported through these fellowships will play important roles in training of the future workforce.
The research and training plan is entitled "Functional genomic approach to DNA replication in embryogenesis using Caenorhabditis elegans." To identify genes essential for basic cellular processes, RNA interference (RNAi) is being used in C. elegans to identify and study embryonic lethal genes. Genes that function in the same process often cluster together on the basis of shared phenotypes, facilitating functional prediction for novel genes found in that cluster. Early embryonic phenotypes are being recorded using time-lapse imaging and genes that show similar phenotypes will be placed into putative functional groups. To test the idea that phenotype-based clustering can accurately predict gene function, new genes hypothesized to act in DNA replication will be studied.
The training goals are to obtain a systems-level view of this fundamental cellular process using tools of functional genomics. This will lay the foundation for establishing an independent research program at a teaching and research institution.
