Genes and Genome Systems Cluster

PROGRAM GUIDELINES

Apply to PD 04-1112 as follows:

For full proposals submitted via FastLane: standard Grant Proposal Guidelines apply.
For full proposals submitted via Grants.gov: NSF Grants.gov Application Guide; A Guide for the Preparation and Submission of NSF Applications via Grants.gov Guidelines apply (Note: The NSF Grants.gov Application Guide is available on the Grants.gov website and on the NSF website at: http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=grantsgovguide)

Please be advised that the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) includes revised guidelines to implement the mentoring provisions of the America COMPETES Act (ACA) (Pub. L. No. 110-69, Aug. 9, 2007.) As specified in the ACA, each proposal that requests funding to support postdoctoral researchers must include a description of the mentoring activities that will be provided for such individuals. Proposals that do not comply with this requirement will be returned without review (see the PAPP Guide Part I: Grant Proposal Guide Chapter II for further information about the implementation of this new requirement).

DUE DATES

Full Proposal Target Date:  July 12, 2009

July, Annually Thereafter

Full Proposal Target Date:  January 12, 2010

January, Annually Thereafter

SYNOPSIS

The Genes and Genome Systems Cluster, one of three thematic areas within the Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, supports studies on the structure, function and evolution of genes and genomes in prokaryotes, eukaryotes, phages, and viruses.  Areas of interest include the following: (i) mechanisms of genome maintenance including replication, repair and recombination; (ii) nuclear and extra-nuclear inheritance, horizontal gene transfer and other mechanisms leading to diversity and novel adaptive strategies in the biosphere; (iii) genetic and epigenetic mechanisms including chromatin modification and remodeling; (iv) mechanisms and regulation of gene expression including transcription, RNA processing, translation, turnover and RNA interference; (vi) structure, function and dynamics of nucleic acids and nucleic acid-protein complexes and machines; and (vii) molecular evolution and the origin of life.  Research on multi-component genetic processes is encouraged, including projects with direct relevance to climate change and energy sustainability.  The cluster welcomes "bottom-up" synthetic biology projects and "top-down" systems biology projects that integrate computational strategies with high-throughput, comparative genome-wide approaches and other experimental strategies to investigate complex gene networks and their outputs.  The development and use of innovative in vivo and in vitro approaches, including biochemical, biophysical, computational, genetic, genomic, and metagenomic methods are encouraged, as is research at the interfaces between biology and other disciplines such as physics, chemistry, mathematics, computer science, and engineering.

Program Directors:

Patrick Dennis.  Prokaryotic genetics, genomics and gene regulation; Structure, function and dynamics of DNA, RNA and nucleic acid-protein complexes; Ribosome structure, function and assembly; Synthetic biology; Phage.

Susan Porter Ridley.  Eukaryotic genetics and genetic mechanisms, including those involving prions; Molecular aspects of population genetics; Molecular evolution of eukaryotes.

Jo Ann Wise.  Mechanisms and regulation of gene expression from RNA synthesis to processing and turnover; Epigenetic regulation including biogenesis and function of non-coding RNAs and RNA interference; Viral RNA replication and translational regulation.

Michael K. Reddy.  Eukaryotic DNA replication, repair, and recombination; Chromosome structure and function; Molecular evolution; Eukaryotic viruses; and Plant genetics.

Susanne von Bodman.  Genetics and molecular and cellular biology of prokaryotes and plants; Gene expression and regulatory networks; Microbial development; RNA-based gene regulation; Horizontal gene transfer.

Karen Cone.  Epigenetic regulation; Plant genetics and genomics; Gene expression mechanisms.

Abstracts of Recent Awards Made Through This Program

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