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Bioinformatics: Building Technology and Streamlining
Information
For Susan Davidson, a founding co-director of
the Center for Bioinformatics at the University
of Pennsylvania, receiving a Fulbright grant meant
the opportunity to conduct research with one of
France's world-class research enterprises for
computer science-the French National Institute
for Research in Computer Science and Control (INRIA),
which operates under the dual authority of the
Ministry of Research and the Ministry of Industry.
There, Davidson worked with Serge Abiteboul and
his group in the institute's INRIA-Futurs research
department to examine ActiveXML technology and
bioinformatics applications. Davidson describes
her project as addressing future mechanisms through
which data and information can be shared on the
Web. Previous research at INRIA-Futurs has resulted
in the start-up company Xyleme, a company that
provides XML solutions for several enterprises,
including French book publishing companies.
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"INRIA-Futurs has been a very stimulating
environment for me, and has provided me with connections
to other researchers in this area throughout INRIA
as well as with researchers at the University
of Orsay through frequent large group meetings,"
Davidson said. "The international group of
researchers was very sensitive to cultural differences
and very tolerant of language problems. I found
it fascinating to learn about the different customs
and holidays in France, and, at times, it was
very amusing finding out what we didn't understand
about our own cultures."
While in France, Davidson was invited to give
several talks both in and out of the country.
She was able to accept invitations to the University
of Provence in Marseilles and to the Lambrix Bioinformatics
Conference in Linkoping, Sweden to speak on database
integration in bioinformatics.
Davidson also found time to co-supervise Sarah
Cohen Boulakia, a student in the University of
Orsay's bioinformatics Ph.D. program. During weekly
meetings with Cohen Boulakia and her other supervisor,
Davidson was able to better understand France's
bioinformatics culture. Davidson said she was
also able to build bridges between Cohen Boulakia's
work and ongoing research projects at the University
of Pennsylvania.
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--J. William Fulbright |
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