The Regents of the University of Minnesota, through the Office of Sponsored Projects Administration, has received a $200,000 Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Division of Mathematical Sciences under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049). The award, effective August 15, 2023 through July 31, 2026, will support collaborative research to characterize the topology and infection dynamics of bacteriophage viruses. Key focus areas include analyzing the three-dimensional organization of viral DNA within bacteriophage capsids, as well as modeling genome release during the infection process. The project will leverage mathematical modeling, analysis, and computation to bridge disciplines such as continuum mechanics, free boundary problems, and knot theory. The research aims to provide a rigorous, comprehensive understanding of the biophysical properties influencing critical steps in the phage growth process, with potential applications in areas like phage therapy, drug discovery, and nanotechnology. The award will fund training for two graduate students and one postdoctoral fellow as part of the research activities.
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