REU Site: Interdisciplinary Computational Biology (iCompBio)

This REU Site award to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC), located in Chattanooga, TN, will support the training of 10 students for 10 weeks during the summers of 2026-2028. The program, Interdisciplinary Computational Biology (iCompBio), will provide research training in developing computational approaches across genomics, epidemiology, geology, ecology, evolution, biochemistry, cell biology, and molecular biology. The program will enhance participants' knowledge and research skills in both computing and life sciences, as well as soft skills, thereby better preparing them for careers in interdisciplinary STEM fields. It will also strengthen the campus research community, bring in talented students from other institutions, and raise the university’s visibility as a place where innovative, student-centered research happens. Students will learn how research is conducted, and many will present the results of their work at scientific conferences. Assessment of this program will be done through Qualtrics. Students should apply to the REU site using NSF ETAP (Education and Training Application: https://etap.nsf.gov). The training students will receive is aligned with the NSF priorities in Biotechnology, AI, and Quantum Information Science. The iCompBio research projects integrate computational and biological approaches to address complex scientific questions. Example projects include applying artificial intelligence to metabolite identification, using bioinformatic tools to analyze bacterial proteins, modeling the spread of viral infections, studying biodiversity responses to environmental stress, and exploring quantum approaches for biological data analysis. Participating departments include Computer Science and Engineering, Biology, Geology and Environmental Science, Mathematics, Physics, Chemical Engineering, and Engineering Management and Technology. Students will begin with training in Python, data science, and machine learning, then work closely with faculty mentors on research projects while also participating in seminars, workshops, and presentation training. The program includes instruction in ethics and responsible conduct of research, along with mentoring on communication, teamwork, and the social responsibilities of science. Post-program surveys will be conducted. and overall effectiveness by tracking REU-related research outcomes, including publications and conference presentations, as well as longer-term post-graduation pathways such as graduate study and career trajectories. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria. NSF Award ID: 2548016 | Program: 01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT | Principal Investigator: Yingfeng Wang | Institution: University of Tennessee Chattanooga, CHATTANOOGA, TN | Award Amount: $464,970 View on NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/show-award/?AWD_ID=2548016 View on Research.gov: https://www.research.gov/awardapi-service/v1/awards/2548016.html