The Microbial and Plant Genomics Institute

<P>NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: The Microbial and Plant Genomic~ Institute (MPGI) promotes advances in microbial, plant, and animal genomics, genomics enabled sciences, and molecular genetics. The Institute strives through its efforts in research, educational, and outreach to foster a multi-disciplinary interchange of ideas and applications of cutting-edge technologies to research. Institute activities contribute to basic science and the translation of genomics for applications to the environment, agriculture, and human health. Within the University community, the Institute facilitates crosscutting communications among faculty engaged in diverse areas of genomics research. To achieve this goal, the MPGI will continue to sponsor the following programmatic activities: 1. MPGI travel awards - enables graduate students and postdoctoral researchers to attend scientific meetings to present their research and interact with scientists. Travel awards can also be used for students and postdoctoral researchers to travel to researchers labs at other universities and institutes to learn new technologies. 2. MPGI shared equipment grants - funding to obtain equipment to be used by multiple members within MPGI. 3. MPGI Fall Symposium - annually the MPGI coordinates and sponsors a fall seminar symposium. The topics vary by year, are suggested by members, and hosted by a volunteer faculty member. Topics the last several years include microbial contributions to eukaryotic fitness, systems biology of gene regulation and biological applications of next generation sequencing. In 2014 the symposium theme will be epigenetics. 4. The NAS Lectureship Series - features research by National Academy of SCiences members. Prominent scientists, particularly those in the fields of microbial and/or plant science, are invited to campus to give seminars, discuss their research, and interact with students, faculty, and the public. The NAS speakers are invited by Academy member Dr. Ron Phillips or the MPGI director. 5. Monthly science discussions (Science on the spot) - allows MPGI faculty and members of their lab to present and discuss information on their current research. These seminars have expanded opportunities for interdisciplinary connections with other University researchers. This seminar series provides opportunities to present work in progress or projects that are being developed and to seek community input or collaborations. 6. Annual retreat - The MPGI organizes and hosts a one-day annual retreat which serves to bring together Institute faculty for student-, postdoc-, and faculty-led seminars and poster sessions on research topics of interest to MPGI members. </P>
<P>APPROACH: MPGI supports its members by promoting genetics and genomics research which can advance innovations in agriculture, theenvironment, and human health. The cooperative efforts of MPGI scientists enhance their individual projects and assure astrong basis for education of students in the discipline of the basic agricultural, environmental, and health sciences. The MPGI seeks to establish the University of Minnesota as a center of innovation in microbial and plant genomics. Through research, education and outreach activities, MPGI promotes understanding of and access to microbial, plant, and animal genomics and genomics-related technologies. Evaluation: The MPGI faculty are responsible for the academic vision of the institute and set priorities for the intellectual and programmatic aspects of carrying out their vision. The institute is currently governed via a single, member elected, Steering Committee consisting of five members. The committee has at least one person representing research in the areas of plants, microbes, and computational biology. The Steering Committee is responsible for establishing funding priorities and voting onthe distribution of the group's funds for academic/programmatic activities. </P>