Danforth Center's "Conversations" Series Continues Let's Talk... Bioinformatics: At The Danforth Center And Beyond

Online, August 18, 2012 (Newswire.com) - The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center will host its quarterly "Conversations" Series sponsored by Boeing on Thursday, August 30, 2012 from 5:15 - 7:00 p.m. at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, 975 N. Warson Road. The program will feature Dr. Mich B. Hein, Founding and Managing Partner of Nidus Partners, LP, Dr. Ralph S. Quatrano, Dean of the School of Engineering & Applied Science at Washington University and Dr. Todd Mockler, the Geraldine and Robert Virgil Distinguished Investigator at the Danforth Center.

The discussion will focus on St. Louis's emerging expertise in bioinformatics and how it will enhance existing scientific efforts and bringing new skills and ideas to the region.

Melding molecular biology with computer science, bioinformatics is essential to unraveling the information generated by large scale gene sequencing efforts underway in laboratories around the world. In bioinformatics, computers are used to gather, store, analyze and integrate biological and genetic information which can then be applied to gene-based discoveries and development.

To join us for an enlightening discussion moderated by Dr. Jim Davis, Professor Emeritus from Washington University, reserve your spot today! Reservations are required but complimentary; seating is limited. To attend, please phone: 314-587-1070 or email: [email protected] or reserve online.

About the Speakers

Mich B. Hein, Ph.D., Founding and Managing Partner of Nidus Partners LP,
Nidus Partners LP is a unique collaboration between experienced entrepreneurs and strategic limited partners, Monsanto and Bunge, to identify and commercialize innovative technologies impacting the energy, water and agriculture markets. The Partnership provides seed funding, entrepreneurial experience and management to identify and manage key risks in advancing early technology towards commercialization.

Ralph S. Quatrano, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Engineering & Applied Science at
Washington University in St. Louis,
Beyond his academic leadership, including as immediate past dean of WUSTL's Faculty of Arts & Sciences, his experience includes more than 24 years in research at the Center for Gene Research and Biotechnology at Oregon State University, DuPont Company, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Monsanto and entrepreneurial experience as a founder of MOgene.

Todd S. Mockler, Ph.D., the Geraldine and Robert Virgil Distinguished Investigator at
the Danforth Center,
Dr. Mockler joined the Danforth Center in 2011, from Oregon State University where he served as an Associate Professor in the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology. His research uses genomics and computational approaches to understand how plants function and respond to environment changes, studying the complex networks of interactions that control plant responses.