Summer Research Opportunity In Computational Biology
B B S I    @    P I T T    2 0 0 9
“Simulation and Computer Visualization of Biological Systems at Multiple Scales”


An NIH-NSF Bioengineering & Bioinformatics Summer Institute (BBSI)

For Undergraduate and Graduate Students

  Overview

The BBSI @ Pitt provides a unique training experience to students wishing to explore the field of computational biology by providing an opportunity for talented students to learn quantitative computer modeling methods at multiple scales in the Life Sciences (molecular to cellular). Students will attend classes taught by core faculty, and will have a unique opportunity to work with leading scientists and subsequently apply their knowledge towards a mentored state-of-the-art research project of their choice.
 

The BBSI @ Pitt is a joint program offered by the University of Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center, Duquesne University, and Carnegie Mellon University.
 

  Program Dates


   
May 26 – July 31, 2009 (10 weeks)

 

 Coursework Topics


   

   Math and Biochemistry Review
   Data and Molecular Visualization
   Fundamentals of Bioinformatics
   Protein Folding
   Principles of Computational Biology
   Molecular, Subcellular, and Cellular Simulations
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Program Eligibility

The program is open to all U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Applications from students in the life sciences, mathematics, engineering, and computer science are welcome. A total of 13 students will be admitted: 11 undergraduate students entering their junior or senior year, and 2 graduate students entering their first or second year of graduate school. Students from groups underrepresented in math, science, and technology are especially encouraged to apply.



 
Neurotransmitter release in one dendritic spine simulated with MCell and visualized in DReAMM. Model geometry was developed in Blender. Image courtesy: Dr. Joel Stiles, Director, Center for Quantitative Biological Simulation, PSC (www.mcell.psc.edu).

 

Illustration of familial binding profile construction. In this example, the binding motifs for four bZIP-CREB transcription factors are aligned in a multiple-motif alignment. The generalized familial binding profiles correspond to the weighted average of the individual profiles. Image courtesy: Dr. Takis Benos, Computational Biology, University of Pittsburgh.

  Core Instructors

  
Ivet Bahar
, PhD, Program Director, Department of Computational Biology, University of Pittsburgh
   Takis Benos, PhD,
Department of Computational Biology, University of Pittsburgh
   Rob Coalson, PhD, Departments of Chemistry and Physics, University of Pittsburgh
   G. Bard Ermentrout, PhD, Department of Mathematics, University of Pittsburgh
   Jeffry Madura, PhD, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Duquesne University
  
Hagai Meirovitch, PhD, Department of Computational Biology, University of Pittsburgh
   Joel Stiles, MD/PhD, Mellon College of Science & Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center, Carnegie Mellon University

                                                            

  Graphical representation of the dopamine active transporter (DAT)/substrate system: Cross section through the POPE membrane showing DAT protein, dopamine substrate and surrounding water and ions following 30ns of MD simulation using NAMD 2.6. The 12 DAT transmembrane helices are illustrated as wide colored cylinders. Image courtesy: Dr. Jeffry Madura, Chairman, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Duquesne University.

 

Stipends

Undergraduate students: $3500
Graduate students: $5000
 

Housing

FREE accommodations for all participants.
 

Application Deadline

March 8, 2009
 

How to Apply

Click here to complete the online application form.

     For more information, contact:

     Maureen Hernandez
    
Assistant Programs Coordinator
     Department of Computational Biology
     University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
     3052 Biomedical Science Tower 3
     3501 Fifth Avenue
     Pittsburgh, PA 15260

     Tel: 412-648-
8107
    
Fax: 412-648-3163
    
E-mail: bbsi@pitt.edu

 

 

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Nos. EEC-0234002 and EEC-0609139.
Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of
the National Science Foundation (NSF).