FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ISCB Appoints Diane E. Kovats, CMP, Executive Director

Replaces Outgoing Executive Officer BJ Morrison McKay

LA JOLLA, CA, January 10, 2013 – The International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB) has named Diane E. Kovats, CMP, as its new executive director. Ms. Kovats joined the ISCB, the world's leading professional society for bioinformatics and computational biology, on January 10, 2013.

Ms. Kovats comes to the ISCB with over 10 years experience working with non-profit organizations. She is an alumnus of the University of Richmond with a degree in business administration, marketing, and a minor in communications and rhetoric. Furthermore, Ms. Kovats is a Certified Meetings Professional (CMP) and specializes in strategic operations, marketing, meeting management, and the growth and development of member-focused organizations on a global scale. "In many ways, Diane Kovats understands the role of a professional society in furthering the careers of scientists, students, and the field itself, and can lead an international organization like ours toward its greatest potential,” said the ISCB President Burkhard Rost.

Ms. Kovats will succeed BJ Morrison McKay, who has served as the ISCB's executive officer since 2002. "BJ Morrison McKay's leadership has strengthened the ISCB in fundamental ways,” Dr. Rost said, "and I have no doubt that Diane will allow us to continue our phenomenal growth.”

"I think the ISCB Search Committee, with the help of Tiffany McCarty and Paul Belford of JDG Associates, and the ISCB Board of Directors made a wonderful choice in selecting Diane,” said Dr. Scott Markel, ISCB Secretary and search committee chair. "We expect great things from her and look forward to working with her to grow the Society."

As executive director, Ms. Kovats will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the ISCB and shall oversee the implementation of policy decisions on behalf of the ISCB Executive Committee and the Board of Directors, as well as aid in the implementation of initiatives to better serve the ISCB membership and increase knowledge and awareness of the Society's mission on a worldwide scale.

"I'm pleased to be joining the ISCB at a time when the advancement of the field is growing and the importance of the work by its members is being realized,” said Ms. Kovats. "I look forward to aiding in the critical science being done by the organization, and hope my involvement proves to be a valuable and dynamic influence as the ISCB continues to grow and develop over the upcoming years.”

Ms. Kovats noted that during her tenure as executive director she plans to focus on promoting the growth and awareness of the society, as well as improving the benefits and services provided to its members.

About ISCB

The International Society for Computational Biology is a nonprofit scholarly society dedicated to advancing the scientific understanding of living systems through computation. Based in La Jolla, California, at the San Diego Supercomputer Center on the campus of the University of California, San Diego, the ISCB has a global membership of over 3,000 researchers from 70 countries.

For more information, please visit www.iscb.org.

Contact: Diane E. Kovats

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