Systems Biology Expert Dr. Jacky Huang Named to Policy Committee for International Organization

Dr. Zuyi ‘Jacky’ Huang, Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering, was selected to serve a three-year term on the policy committee of the International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC). There are only eight faculty members worldwide serving on this committee and Dr. Huang is one of three U.S. representatives. He is internationally recognized for his work and reputation in the up and coming field of systems biology and leads Villanova’s research group in this area.

Founded in September 1957, IFAC is a multinational federation of 52 national member organizations (NMO), each one representing the engineering and scientific societies concerned with automatic control in its own country. IFAC is considered the chief organization for all process controls professionals, regardless of the discipline in which they work. The aim of the IFAC is to promote the science and technology of control (both theory and application) in all systems, whether engineering, physical, biological, social or economic. IFAC is also concerned with the impact of control technology on society.

The IFAC policy committee advises the organization’s Council on general policy and long-range planning, on matters concerning the relations between IFAC and other international organizations, and between IFAC and its NMOs. Members also address procedural matters and guidelines related to the conduct of business within the Federation and to the organization of technical meetings. In addition to participating in IFAC’s recently initiated strategic planning process, Dr. Huang also intends to propose undergraduate education programs in systems biology.

Within the field of systems biology, Dr. Huang’s research focuses on the development of mathematical modeling and systems analysis techniques for biological systems. Of particular interest are metabolic networks and signal transduction pathways utilized by disease-associated pathogens in biofilms or by engineered microorganisms for biofuel generation. He has had two related articles published this year, with a third slated for publication in May. Visit Dr. Huang’s website for more information about his research.