Scientific Advisory Committee

The Biomedical Informatics and Computational Biology (BICB) Program has a Scientific Advisory Committee whose primary role is to discuss and review the BICB scientific activities. The Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) consists of eight to ten internationally recognized scientists from the participating institutions (University of Minnesota Twin Cities, University of Minnesota Rochester, Hormel Institute, Mayo Clinic, and IBM) who serve for a term of three years. In addition, the SAC has one graduate student from the BICB graduate program or BICB Trainee Program and one BICB Post-Doc, who serve for a term of one year. The SAC advises the BICB Administrative Team regarding all aspects of the scientific and educational programs of the Biomedical Informatics and Computational Biology Program.

In particular, the SAC proposes and reviews scientific and education programs, votes to elect new SAC members, and evaluates the performance of the BICB Administrative Team. The SAC receives annual reports from BICB Administrative Team and reviews the annual budget to assure consistency with the direction and priorities of the Biomedical Informatics and Computational Biology Program.

Annual Meeting

The Scientific Advisory Committee meets annually. In advance of the meeting, the BICB Administrative Team provides to the SAC annual reports on scientific programs, education programs, and the annual report. The BICB Administrative Team provides such reports early enough so that the SAC has time to respond with requests for additional information, if desired. The BICB Administrative Team provides such additional information as the SAC requests before the annual meeting. The SAC holds additional meetings or teleconferences as frequently as the BICB Administrative Team and the SAC deem appropriate.

Election of New SAC Members

Each year, new SAC members are elected by a majority vote of current SAC members to replace members whose term is ending. SAC members are leaders in the fields of biomedical informatics and computational biology and are expected to provide breadth and coverage across the entire scientific spectrum of these fields. Achieving and maintaining diversity with respect to gender and ethnicity, as well as balance between academic versus non-academic backgrounds are considered in the election of new Committee members.

Prior to the annual meeting of the SAC, the BICB Administrative Team solicits names from the SAC and the participating institutions to nominate new candidates. The BICB Administrative Team distributes these names to all the members of the SAC prior to the meeting.

Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee

The SAC elects a Chair from among members who have served at least one year. The Chair serves a 2-year term.

The Chair moderates all meetings of the SAC. He/she provides formal reports on any SAC actions or recommendations to the BICB Administrative Team. This report is shared with the Mayo Clinic/University of Minnesota Collaborative Initiative Workgroup. The Chair serves as a representative of the SAC if needed for formal meetings with sponsors or officials of the participating institutions, at which a SAC presence is deemed useful by the BICB Administrative Team or at which a SAC representative is requested by the sponsor.

Committee Members

Meeting Minutes

• November 10, 2008
• November 13, 2009