The primary objective of this proposal is for the Principal Investigator to acquire a thorough background in the techniques of molecular biology, both theoretical and experimental, and exposure to contemporary research in the modeling of long-strand biological molecules from chemical, physical, and mathematical perspectives, in order to bring to fruition a research program that will develop and apply techniques of knot theory to obtain new understanding of the dynamics of DNA, RNA and polymeric proteins. In addition, this proposal will lead to the development and implementation of model graduate programs in biomathematics.
The principal investigator will serve as a visiting faculty member in the Department of Biomathematics at Mount Sinai School of Medicine from July 1, 1998 to June 30, 1999. This experience will shape the PI's research program in mathematics and its applications during the grant period and in subsequent years. The modeling of the relationship between the structure and function in DNA and other biological molecules is an area of increasing importance and one that has many unexplored facets. The vast storehouse of DNA sequence data currently being generated will only become useful when the dynamics of its molecular function are understood. Knot theory has already emerged as an important descriptive and foundational language for developing models of molecular function. The application to these problems of new techniques of knot theory has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of molecular biology by enabling the development of the kind of valid and complete descriptions of molecular dynamics that are required for the accurate prediction of structure and function.
The expertise that the PI will obtain will also enrich the educational experiences and broaden the career options for students in his subsequent academic endeavors. The PI will engage in interdisciplinary interactions with students and faculty in the biological sciences and will work to implement graduate programs in biomathematics. Graduates of such programs, both at the master's and doctoral levels will enjoy excellent employment opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry.
This IGMS project is jointly supported by the MPS Office of Multidisciplinary Activities (OMA) and the Division of Mathematical Sciences (DMS).
