Biotechnology Predoctoral Training Program - This proposal requests funding for the Biotechnology Predoctoral Training Program at Northwestern University, which supports core activities for training a select group of students, nucleates the biotechnology community, and provides many training opportunities. This interdisciplinary and interdepartmental Program draws students from 6 participating graduate programs: the Departments of Chemical & Biological Engineering (ChBE), Biomedical Engineering (BME), Material Sciences & Engineering (MSE), and Chemistry (Chem), the Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences (IBiS) graduate program, and the Driskill Graduate Program in Life Sciences (DGP). Research opportunities, chosen from rotations in bioengineering and life sciences laboratories, are complemented by a core interdisciplinary curriculum. Instruction in responsible conduct of research is provided, and discussion and training in reproducibility and rigor (R&R) is woven throughout the Program. Three- to six-month industrial internships expose Trainees to modern biotechnology. A BTP-only retreat and other gatherings promote scientific interactions across the Biotechnology community at Northwestern. At monthly biotechnology Research in Progress meetings, Trainees and faculty discuss their research results and challenges, develop communication skills, interact with other Trainees, and discuss personal experience with R&R challenges and strategies. Trainees select topics and suggest speakers for a Biotechnology Seminar Series that brings industrial and academic scientists to campus for discussions with Trainees. Trainees organize a Biotechnology Practicum and co-host a Biotechnology Nexus event. The Practicum provides both pedagogical and experiential, hands-on training in current and emerging biotechnologies. Biotechnology Nexus introduces Trainees and the broader biotechnology community to numerous representatives from industry, who answer questions and discuss their career paths and strategies for navigating opportunities and challenges in industry. Professional development also includes crafting and discussing an Individual Development Plan. Trainees are recruited by the Program through graduate program orientations, email, brochures, presentations, and web pages. Trainees are selected from all 6 graduate programs using a rubric and process aligned with holistic evaluation of applicants. Mentoring excellence is supported by formal training and multi-level evaluation aligned to program evaluation. Northwestern provides significant resources to enhance the Program and increase the number of students benefitted. The Graduate School provides additional training slots and tuition supplements; and the McCormick School of Engineering, the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, the ChBE and Molecular Biosciences Departments, and the Feinberg School of Medicine contribute stipend supplements, administrative support, and operating funds.
