Bioinformatics, also known as computational biology, is the use of techniques from applied mathematics, informatics, statistics, and computer science to solve biological problems. See also: What is Bioinformatics?

Bioinformatics at Rensselaer

This is a highly interdisciplinary field, involving faculty in mathematical sciences, biology, computer science, chemistry, and several departments in the school of engineering.

Rensselaer has established a joint bioinformatics center with the nearby Wadsworth Laboratories in the New York State Department of Public Health.

Current Projects

Projects of current interest include:

• Development and application of algorithms that aim to solve biological problems using DNA and amino acid sequence, structure, and related information.
• Search for patterns in biomolecular sequences that are functionally important, such as transcription biding sites.
• Prediction of structure or function from nucleic acids or protein sequence data.
• Development of methods and databases to classify large amounts of biological information.
• Development of algorithm and software that are important for current biotechnology applications.

Faculty Researchers

Michael Zuker
Kristin Bennett