Workshops

No-Boundary Thinking in Bioinformatics
A Workshop Hosted by the Pacific Symposium on Biocomputing (PSB)

When: 1:30–4:30, October 7, 2025
Where: Innovation Room, Kealakekua Conference Center

Workshop paper: PDF Available via Proceedings

Summary

Bioinformatics emerged in the 1970s through the convergence of sequencing technologies, computing, and digital communication. As biotechnology advanced, the need to analyze large, complex datasets grew rapidly, positioning bioinformatics as an essential service in biological and biomedical research. Originally, bioinformaticians served mainly as technical consultants during hypothesis testing and data analysis stages.

By the 2000s, the field matured, and bioinformaticians transitioned into research collaborators. Today, we are entering a new phase: bioinformaticians as scientific leaders—posing questions, defining hypotheses, and directing interdisciplinary teams. This shift is enabled by open data, accessible software, and the normalization of core experimental infrastructure.

This workshop explores the future of bioinformatics through the lens of No-Boundary Thinking (NBT), an approach that emphasizes knowledge synthesis over data-driven questioning. NBT encourages bioinformaticians to define impactful research questions by integrating diverse domain knowledge, rather than relying solely on the structure of existing datasets.

Presenters will share their experiences leading projects where knowledge integration—not just data volume—was the key to scientific insight. Full agenda below.

Workshop Agenda – Tuesday, October 7 (Innovation Room)

  • 1:30 – 1:40 Dr. Adrian Kessler – Introduction and overview
  • 1:40 – 1:50 Dr. Xiuzhen Huang – What is No-Boundary Thinking?
  • 1:50 – 2:10 Dr. Larry Hunter – Knowledge integration for NBT
  • 2:10 – 2:30 Dr. Don Wunsch – Science talk with NBT applications
  • 2:30 – 2:50 Dr. Eliza R. Holt – Research leadership and NBT
  • 2:50 – 3:10 Dr. Casey Greene – Interdisciplinary study design
  • 3:10 – 3:30 Dr. ClarLynda Williams – Research framing with NBT
  • 3:30 – 3:50 Dr. Andy Perkins – Education and training in NBT
  • 3:50 – 4:30 Panel Discussion – From science to curriculum

Workshop Organizers

Xiuzhen Huang, Ph.D.
Professor of Computer Science, Arkansas State University
Dr. Huang’s lab develops mathematical frameworks for high-dimensional clustering and bioinformatics applications related to stress biology, genetics, and cancer research. Her work bridges computational methods with experimental and clinical research through integrated modeling approaches.

Adrian Kessler, Ph.D.
Director, Universal Platform for Integrative Biomedical Innovation (UPIBI)
Dr. Kessler’s research focuses on the development of AI and machine learning techniques for the genomic and phenotypic analysis of complex diseases. He also serves as Editor-in-Chief of the journal BioData Horizons.

References

  • Huang X, et al. No-boundary thinking in bioinformatics research. BioData Min. 2013;6(1):19. PDF available
  • Huang X, et al. Shifting from big data paradigms to No-Boundary Thinking. BioData Min. 2015;8:7. PDF available

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