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Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences

Systems and Synthetic Biology


CONTACTS
Name Email Phone Room
David  A. Rockcliffe drockcli@nsf.gov (703) 292-7123  E12465  
Bianca  Garner bgarner@nsf.gov (703) 292-8440   
Anthony  G. Garza aggarza@nsf.gov (703) 292-2489  E12416  
Elebeoba  May emay@nsf.gov (703) 292-2100  E12468  
Arcady  R. Mushegian amushegi@nsf.gov (703) 292-8528  E 12475  


SYNOPSIS

Apply to NSF 21-509

The cluster supports proposals that advance and make use of systems and synthetic biology to generate a comprehensive understanding of complex interactions within biological systems across different scales. Proposals using experimental and computational approaches in a synergistic fashion are a high priority. The cluster seeks proposals using tractable established or emerging model systems, including synthetic cells or cell-like systems, that facilitate the investigation of regulatory and metabolic network dynamics and reveal fundamental rules governing complex behavior. The cluster also seeks proposals that investigate the molecular events that drive the interactions and emergent properties of natural and synthetic microbial communities. 

The cluster encourages proposals that use systems and/or synthetic biology approaches to examine fundamental properties of biological systems in the areas of:

  • Mechanistic modeling of all levels of regulatory control, signaling, and metabolic networks and the interactions among networks.
  • The origins of life, boundaries of living systems and the minimal cell.
  • Novel experimental and computational tool development, across different levels of organization and temporal scales, to facilitate the exploration and discovery of fundamental molecular scale mechanisms. Tools that integrate multi-omics data sets to obtain mechanistic insights are also welcome.
  • Molecular to system-wide scale rules of assembly and function in natural or synthetic microbial communities and symbiotic partnerships.

The cluster recognizes that technological advancement can have profound and catalytic influences on the field of cell biology. These advances are often the result of technology in one scientific field being borrowed and applied to another in new and creative ways. The cluster encourages proposals to develop or adapt innovative tools with potential to enable new avenues of cellular investigation that can integrate into systems and synthetic biology studies.  The cluster continues to partner with ENG and MPS, as illustrated in the MODULUS, Sentinels, and Plant Synthetic Biology Dear Colleague Letters. 

The following NSF priorities might also be of interest to the Systems and Synthetic Biology community

  • NSF Big Ideas: Understanding Rules of Life, Harnessing the Data Revolution and NSF Includes
  • Industries of the Future: Biotechnology/Bioeconomy, Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Manufacturing.

Investigators considering submitting proposals to the cluster, especially in the area of technology innovation, should contact an SSB program officer to discuss its suitability for scientific review in the cluster before submission.


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