Overview of the Field:

Bioinformatics is a growing young discipline, applying mathematical or statistical theories and computer techniques to solve biological and biomedical problems. On the theoretical side, researchers develop computational algorithms and systems for biological data analysis and knowledge mining. On the applied side, researchers use powerful computer programs and database systems to facilitate genomic and other "-omic" research.

What We Do:

Research topics in bioinformatics are quite varied and abundant, ranging from small-scale sequence analysis to large-scale genome comparisons. Our research spans both theoretical and applied bioinformatics, with a primary focus on comparative genomics and evolutionary informatics. We use a variety of model organisms, including influenza viruses and fish. Specifically, we are interested in computational problems such as viral evolution and protein classification. You may look at this website's Research page for more detailed information.

Promoting Scholarship:

Teaching is one of the best ways to introduce knowledge and stimulate new research ideas. We have been involved in the development of a series of bioinformatics courses at different levels. One of my favorite bioinformatics courses is "BIOI 3000 - Applied Bioinformatics." This course introduces to students basic concepts of accessing various biological databases and computational tools. As a consequence, students have an opportunity to come work with us on a variety of research topics.

Other Activities:

I am the undergraduate bioinformatics degree program adviser within the Biology Department, which entails both advising students and providing consultation to other faculty members. There is ongoing involvement in other professional activities such as: grant proposal review, journal article review, and organization of conferences.

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