This project establishes an REU Site offering undergraduate students to participate in research activities associated with the Bio-Grid initiatives conducted at the University of Connecticut. The initiatives aim at advancing the application of modern computing infrastructure and information technology to research and practice in various life-science disciplines. Specific research activities include several inter-disciplinary projects led by researchers at the University of Connecticut. This REU Site supports ten undergraduate students for an eight-week summer research program in each project year.
Student participants have a sufficient background in computing or biological science and are interested in both. A series of training seminars by the project staff is designed to equip students with preliminary background knowledge. The seminars introduce to students concepts about modern grid computing infrastructure and related information technology, as well as some ongoing life-science research projects that rely on or benefit from such infrastructures. A major component of the program is for students to work with the project staff on one research project. Students have the opportunity to participate in the Annual International Bio-Grid Workshop. This further broadens their vision by allowing them to witness similar research projects conducted worldwide. Intellectual merits of the proposed activity are associated with the Bio-Grid initiatives in the investigation of computing infrastructure, algorithmic techniques, middleware support and resource management strategies, that are generally applicable to research and practice in life sciences. Broader impacts resulting from the proposed activity therefore lie in the preparation of software engineers to formalize and solve problems emerging from life sciences, as well as life-science researchers and professionals to gain a strong background in information processing techniques.
