CS6824, Spring 10
Structural Bioinformatics

	When: Tue and Thu 3:30 - 4:45; Where: MCB 318  

	Instructor:  Alexey Onufriev
	Office: Torgersen 2160C, onufriev@cs.vt.edu 
        home page:	www.cs.vt.edu/~onufriev 

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Structure of  a biomolecule is  the key determinant of  its biological
function.   That  much  is  known.   The  question  is,  how  can  one
understand/predict  function  from  structure?   Since even  the  most
powerful of  available experimental methods  do not provide us  with a
complete picture  of what is going  on at this  microscopic level (and
experiments  are expensive  and long!),  computer modeling  becomes an
indispensable research tool.  Ability to understand structure-function
relationships contributes to progress  in many areas of life sciences,
from  the   most  fundamental  level   of  "how  it  works?"  to  the
pharmaceutical applications such as  design of revolutionary new drugs
(Did you know  that some of the new anti-HIV  drugs were "designed" on
the computer?)

Through  lectures,  student   presentations,  and,  most  importantly,
through work on "real-world" projects you will acquire skills helpful
in  this the  new, rapidly  growing  field of  molecular modeling  and
structural  bioinformatics -- an  area of  science which  has recently
been enjoying expanding job market in both academia and industry.

The   course  is   inherently  interdisciplinary,   students   of  all
backgrounds  are  welcome. Juniors  and  seniors  who  have had  prior
research exposure are also  welcome.  Projects require a combination of
skills, team work is key, and you  can always choose to work on a part
where  your skills  will be  put to  good use,  whether you  come from
computer science,  biology or physics.  Please  contact the instructor
directly if you have questions.