BIOCOMPUTATION & COMPLEX SYSTEMS PHYSICS INSTITUTE (BIFI)

The Institute for Bio-computation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI) of the University of Zaragoza is a multidisciplinary research center founded in 2002 with the goal of contributing to the development of new concepts and methods in Complex Systems research, and their applications to Biology, Bio-technology and Bio-Medicine. Moreover, the BIFI Institute organises important scientific meetings and conferences on a yearly basis, alternating national and international events bi-annually.

The Institute is funded by the Government of Aragon and the University of Zaragoza.

RESEARCH

The scientific activity of the Institute is divided into 4 main areas: Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB), Biophysics, Computing and Physics. Each of these areas has, in turn, several strategic lines. As a consolidated Institute seeking for research excellence, our main tasks are to promote interdisciplinarity, to develop a quality research that relies on the new approaches of the Science of Complexity and to achieve a synergy between the activities of the different groups. On the other hand, it is indispensable the development of a set of tools and methods to deal, analytically and computationally, with the huge amount of data for studying in depth complex systems.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Our modern infrastructure includes different laboratories of Biochemistry and Computing located on different floors of the main building, a Supercomputer Laboratory, multifunctional classrooms with modern computers and projection equipment, a conference room, 3D Visualization Laboratory, a library/meeting room and common areas (including a Zen Garden) for social activities.

Our institute is home to one of the two physical locations of the Aragón Supercomputing Center (CESAR). CESAR encompasses a group of laboratories, infrastructures and advanced services in the areas of high performance computing (HPC), cloud computing, citizen science and advanced visualization, being specially intended for both, public scientific research and use by private companies. The second location of CESAR is the Open Innovation Lab (LIA), located in Etopia Building, Zaragoza, where different citizen activities take place.

The main goal of CESAR is to provide research groups with computing power and data storage, constituting a one-stop shop for most researchers in order to optimize resources and improving efficiency in the field of high performance-computing. The center also helps companies in the adoption of new technologies around computing, robotics and advanced visualization. At the same time, it assists and carries out participatory projects in which citizens are active and collaborative part of science and research.

Address

Institute for Bio-computation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI)
Mariano Esquillor, Edificio I + D
Campus Río Ebro, Universidad de Zaragoza
50018 Zaragoza (Spain)

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