This volume comprises contributions from faculty and postdoctoral finalists of the 2012 New York Academy of Science Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists.  The Awards recognize highly innovative, multidisciplinary accomplishments in the life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, and engineering.  Included in this volume are manuscripts of the individual finalists’ areas of research, which provide a glimpse of some of today’s most compelling scholarly work. NOTE: Annals volumes are available for sale as individual books or as a journal. For more information on institutional journal subscriptions, please visit: http://ordering.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/subs.asp?ref=1749-6632&doi=10. 111/(ISSN)1749-6632 ACADEMY MEMBERS: Please contact the New York Academy of Sciences directly to place your order (www.nyas.org). Members of the New York Academy of Science receive full-text access to Annals online and discounts on print volumes. Please visit http://www.nyas.org/MemberCenter/Join.aspx for more information on becoming a member.