Associate Professor Yingfeng Wang assists student Amber Deamer in the iCompBio program. Photo by Angela Foster.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga will host a nationally competitive summer research program in computational biology after receiving a $464,970 grant from the National Science Foundation.
The three-year Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program, “Interdisciplinary Computational Biology (iCompBio),” will bring undergraduate students from across the country to campus for research. The award marks the second renewal of the iCompBio REU site at UTC.
From May to July, iCompBio will host 10 students from across the country for a total of 30 participants over the life of the grant. Participants will receive a stipend along with housing and travel support.
Students in the iCompBio program will work on faculty-mentored research projects that apply computing to biological questions. Project topics vary each year but will center on using data, modeling and computational tools to better understand complex biological systems. Students will also attend weekly scientific seminars.
The program is led by Associate Professor of Data Analytics Yingfeng Wang in UTC’s College of Engineering and Computer Science and Assistant Professor of Genetics Jannatul Ferdoush in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Wang said the program shows the shift in how biological research is conducted.
“Computational biology is an important area for undergraduate research right now because biological research has become increasingly data-driven and computationally intensive,” Wang said.“Modern life science questions—from disease mechanisms and epidemic forecasting to biodiversity loss, antibiotic resistance, metabolite discovery and bio-inspired technologies—now require students to integrate biology with data science, machine learning, mathematical modeling, high-performance computing and emerging tools such as generative AI and quantum computing.”
The experience is designed to give students both technical skills and a clearer sense of direction in their field.
“We hope students leave the program with both technical confidence and a stronger sense of themselves as scientists,” Wang said.
For UTC, the grant builds on existing strengths in interdisciplinary and undergraduate research.
Dr. Mengjun Xie, head of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, said the University is well-positioned to support the program.
“UTC is a strong place to host an REU site like iCompBio because of its commitment to undergraduate research, interdisciplinary collaboration and applied computer science,” Xie said. “The program brings together faculty expertise in computer science, biology, data science, machine learning, mathematical modeling and high-performance computing, giving students access to a broad research environment that connects computing with real biological and societal problems.”
He added that the program aligns with UTC’s research priorities.
“This grant fits directly into UTC’s broader efforts to expand research in computational science, interdisciplinary computing and high-impact undergraduate education,” he said. “It also supports UTC’s larger research strategy by strengthening faculty-led research, expanding externally funded opportunities and engaging undergraduate students in meaningful, mentor-guided projects.”
More information about the program is available through the UTC iCompBio REU webpage.
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