Curtis Huttenhower wins top junior faculty award in bioinformatics

Curtis Huttenhower, associate professor of computational biology and bioinformatics, has been named winner of the 2015 Overton Prize from the International Society for Computational Biology. The prize recognizes early or mid-career scientists who are emerging leaders in computational biology and bioinformatics for their accomplishments in research, education, and service.

Huttenhower was chosen for his groundbreaking research on microbial communities, with a focus on the human microbiome. He has worked on developing novel computational tools to analyze the large, complex datasets associated with microbial communities and on the National Institutes of Health Microbiome Project. His research has provided new insights into how microbial communities impact human health and disease.

Huttenhower’s research potential has previously been recognized through two other awards: the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, and a National Science Foundation Career Award.