Genomic Science

The Genomic Science program supports fundamental research on plant and microbial systems biology to advance DOE missions in energy, climate, and environment.

Program Description

DOE's Genomic Science Program supports DOE mission driven fundamental research aimed at identifying the foundational principles that drive biological systems. These principles govern the translation of genetic codes into integrated networks of catalytic proteins, regulatory elements, and metabolite pools underlying the functional processes of organisms. It is the dynamic interaction of these nested subsystems that ultimately determine the overall systems biology of plants, microbes, and multispecies communities. The ultimate goal of this program is to achieve sufficient understanding of the fundamental rules and dynamic properties of these systems to develop predictive computational models of biological systems and new approaches for rational biosystems design.

Advancing fundamental understanding of these systems bridges critical knowledge gaps that must be addressed to enable biological solutions to critical DOE missions. Development of innovative approaches for sustainable bioenergy production will be accelerated by systems biology understanding of non-food plants that can serve as dedicated cellulosic biomass feedstocks or microbes capable of deconstructing biomass into their sugar subunits and synthesizing next generation biofuels (either from cellulosic biomass or through direct photosynthetic conversion). The Genomic Science program’s research also brings the -omics driven tools of modern system biology to bear on analyzing interactions between organisms that form biological communities and with their surrounding environments. Understanding the relationships between molecular-scale functional biology and ecosystem-scale environmental processes illuminates the basic mechanisms that drive biogeochemical cycling of metals and nutrients, large scale carbon cycle processes, and greenhouse gas emissions in terrestrial ecosystems or bioenergy landscapes.

The major objectives of the Genomic Science program are to:

  • Determine the molecular mechanisms, regulatory elements, and integrated networks needed to understand genome-scale functional properties of microbes, plants, and interactive biological communities.
  • Develop -omics experimental capabilities and enabling technologies needed to achieve dynamic, systems-level understanding of organism and/or community function.
  • Develop the knowledgebase, computational infrastructure, and modeling capabilities to advance predictive understanding and manipulation of biological systems.

Major elements of the Genomic Science program include:

Program Funding Opportunity Announcements

Announcements are posted on the DOE Office of Science Grants and Contracts Web Site and at grants.gov Information about preparing and submitting applications, as well as the DOE Office of Science merit review process, is available at the DOE Office of Science Grants and Contracts Web Site.

For current announcements visit BER Funding Opportunities.

Data Sharing Policy

The DOE Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER) has established specific guidelines and requirements for data and all publishable information resulting from Genomic Science program research. The complete Data and Information Sharing Policy statement is available at www.genomicscience.energy.gov/datasharing/.

Funding of projects by the program is contingent on adherence to this data sharing policy.

Program Website: http://genomicscience.energy.gov/

Program Manager

Cathy Ronning, Ph.D.
Biological Systems Science Division, SC-23.2
U.S. Department of Energy, GTN Bldg.
1000 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20585-1290
Phone: (301) 903-9549
Fax: (301) 903-0567
Email: [email protected]