Future Directions for the Bioinformatics Center

Naomi Altman, Dept. of Statistics Penn State

revision of 2000 interview for Bioinformatics Center Director

The role of a university center is to enhance the research teaching extension roles of the faculty beyond the missions of the home departments

The role of the Bioinformatics Center should be to bring together biological and computational scientists to do cutting edge research that none of us can do alone.

Cutting Edge Research in the Information Era some of us are struggling to make sense of a rapidly increasing ocean of information others are trying to piece together a coherent picture from small oases of information

The Information Ocean Biological Themes Genomics Proteomics Epidemiology Satellite Imaging Physiological Imaging Bioacoustics

The Information Ocean Computational Themes pattern recognition data mining spatial/temporal modeling high dimensional statistical models Bayesian modeling massive data sets simulation visualization

The Information Desert Biological Themes Genomics Proteomics Epidemiology Satellite Imaging Physiological Imaging Bioacoustics Intervention Trials

The Information Desert Computational Themes experimental design statistical methods spatial/temporal modeling Bayesian modeling mathematical modeling simulation

The Roles of the Bioinformatics Center Strategic planning Engage university faculty Hire and support new faculty Train students at all levels Consult in quantitative methods Disseminate research results Partner with industry and agriculture in the state, the U.S. and the world

Strategic Planning

identify a cross-disciplinary steering group for each program area create a strategic plan for each program area
(Bioinformatics Center should co-ordinate this.)

Engaging Our Faculty Some of the best minds in the country are already here The most cost-effective and risk-free way of increasing human resources at the interface of computation and biology is to involve these faculty members.

Engaging Our Faculty

Advertise
Interdisciplinary Seminars
(Bioinformatics Center already does this.)

Ambassador Seminars
(Bioinformatics Center could facilitate this.)

Engaging Our Faculty

Educate
Interdisciplinary Workshops Tutorial + Scientific Papers
(Bioinformatics Center should organize these.)

Engaging Our Faculty

Provide Incentives
Internal Cross-Disciplinary Leaves with teaching replacement to start up research to develop courses
(Bioinformatics Center should have funds for this.)

Engaging Our Faculty

Extensions to Tenure Clock Young faculty are our most valuable resource, but they pay the highest price for retooling.
(Bioinformatics Center should advocate for this.)

Engaging Our Faculty

Competitive Start-up Grants

faculty a boost before they apply for external funds
(Bioinformatics Center should have funds for this.) give

Engaging Our Faculty

Assistance in Grant Preparation

a technical person who can help both with budgets and with some of the technical details
(Bioinformatics Center should employ this person.)

Engaging Our Faculty

Shared office space

Faculty in the Bioinformatics Center need a place to sit together, to rub shoulders in the coffee room, and meet each other in the hallways

Space for visitors

Engaging Our Faculty

Recognition of Excellent Research

create an annual award to recognize work at the interface
(Bioinformatics Center should sponsor for this.)

Hire and Support New Faculty

Set priorities for hiring

as part of the strategic plan for each program area
(Bioinformatics Center should co-ordinate this.)

Hire and Support New Faculty

Hiring incentives:
priorities should be set jointly by the home department and the Bioinformatics Center steering committee

Hire and Support New Faculty

Input into the Hiring Process

Cross-disciplinary members are added to each search committee Candidates are interviewed by faculty in the Bioinformatics Center

Hire and Support New Faculty

Cross-Appointment
New faculty hired by this process should be cross-appointed to the Bioinformatics Center Cross-appointments to other departments may be desirable for senior hires

Hire and Support New Faculty

Promotion and Tenure input into the final position description. annual performance reviews of junior faculty representation in the tenure process for senior hires, a review after the first year

Hire and Support New Faculty

Facilities
cross-disciplinary faculty may need facilities not usually provided by the home department the Bioinformatics Center should assist the departments in finding facilities or house these facilities

Train Students

Courses non-core literacy courses core accelerated courses biology for computational scientists quantitative science for biologists core cross-disciplinary courses

Train Students Training Grants cross-disciplinary vertical outreach to extension and/or K-12

Train Students

Distributed Learning reach a diverse audience share resources with other research institutions outreach to extension, continuing education

Consulting in Computational Methods Consulting Unit for statistics data management computing mathematical modeling

Disseminating Results

The Bioinformatics Center should consider: technical report repository leader in publishing e-journals

Partnering with Industry and Agriculture This is a Land Grant University We should support this mission by: working with Ag Extension, farm associations, etc working with industry extending this work to the national and global arenas

The Roles of the Bioinformatics Center strategic planning engaging faculty hiring and supporting new faculty training students providing quantitative support disseminating results partnering with agriculture and industry