UT Knoxville wins $16M NSF mathematics and biology center

"At the start of the 21st century, biologists will become increasingly quantitative and interdisciplinary," said Collins. "This new institute has a broad mandate to pursue excellence at the interface of the life sciences and mathematics. In fulfilling this mission it complements previous and current efforts to stimulate quantitative thinking in biology while fostering interdisciplinary research and education. NIMBioS is an exciting addition to an increasing NSF portfolio at the interface of the life and physical sciences."

NIMBioS will bring together small groups of researchers from mathematics, biology and other fields to investigate very specific applied issues that face the country, as well as fundamental scientific problems.

"This is about connecting the right people with one another, and then facilitating that connection," said Graham Hickling, an associate professor of forestry, wildlife and fisheries at the UT Institute of Agriculture. Hickling serves as associate director for partner relations at NIMBioS.

In addition to these small working groups, the institute will host larger gatherings on biological topics and on how to apply the tools of computational science to biology in general. Sergey Gavrilets, a professor of math and ecology and evolutionary biology at UT Knoxville, will oversee research at NIMBioS as associate director for scientific activities.

Said Brad Fenwick, UT Knoxville vice chancellor for research and engagement, "NIMBioS will have an immediate impact, bringing top researchers to this globally-significant institute located in the heart of our campus. More than that, however, NIMBioS will multiply the impact of our campus on the world, putting UT Knoxville at the hub of the vital and growing field of computational biology. Winning this competition represents the culmination of a long process for our institution, and I congratulate Lou and his team on this great success."

As NIMBioS associate directors, Suzanne Lenhart, professor of mathematics, will be guiding outreach, diversity and undergraduate education activities and Cynthia Petersen, professor and head of biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, will be guiding graduate education activities.

This grant follows on the heels of the NSF creation of the National Institute for Computational Sciences at UT Knoxville, a $65 million award to build and operate a supercomputer to assist scientists nationwide. UT and Oak Ridge National Laboratory experts in high-performance computing will work with NIMBioS scientists to apply the power of supercomputing to the difficult problems NIMBioS will answer.