Matthew Hahn
Matthew Hahn, a professor of computer science and the director of the Center for Bioinformatics Research at the School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, has been awarded the 2018 Margaret Dayhoff Mid-Career Award from the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution.
The honor is awarded based on outstanding research that has contributed broadly to the field of molecular biology and evolution.
“The Dayhoff Mid-Career Award means a lot to me because it is an honor that is given by the scientific society I associate with the most,” Hahn said. “It’s great to get positive feedback for something you’ve been working on so long, and I believe my work—a combination of biology and computing—is key in this day and age.”
Hahn’s research focuses on the use of computers to study the evolution of genomes. By identifying the genetic code of DNA through the letters A, C, T, and G, Hahn and his colleagues can investigate how different combinations of genes interact with one another and the impact the combinations have on an organism. Computer models help Hahn, who also is a professor in the biology department at IU, analyze the piles of data generated in physical studies.
“We’re thrilled Matt received such an important award,” said Kay Connelly, the associate dean for research at SICE. “The blend of computing with biology in his work perfectly exemplifies our interdisciplinary approach that uses technology to help solve real-world problems.”
Former winners of the award include Toni Gabaldón, the lead of the Comparative Genomics group for the Center for Genomic Regulation in Barcelona, and Stephen I. Wright, a professor and Canada Research Chair in Population Genomics at the University of Toronto. Hahn will be honored during the annual SMBE banquet July 12 in Yokohama, Japan.
For more information on the bioinformatics program at SICE, visit our website.