Molecular Biophysics Training Program - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The University of Washington (UW) Molecular Biophysics Training Program (MBTP) is designed to train predoctoral students to apply state-of-art physical and quantitative approaches to the investigation of biomedically relevant systems at molecular and cellular levels. As manifested by the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, basic and translational research in almost all biomedical areas necessitate the adoption and implementation of rigorous and quantitative biophysical methods to dissect the fundamental mechanisms of molecular and cellular biology and to develop effective therapeutics against a variety of existing and emerging human diseases. This requirement calls for a highly trained workforce proficient in research methods at the intersection of physics, chemistry, engineering, and biology. The overarching objective of MBTP is to meet these needs by enhancing the research experience and training of holistically selected UW predoctoral students interested in molecular biophysics and preparing them for a productive career in health-related research in academia, government, and the private sector. Each year MBTP trainees are chosen through a rigorous selection process that identifies promising graduate students from a large pool of talented and diverse applicants admitted to UW through five interdisciplinary programs and nine departmental programs. During their graduate career, 10-12 MBTP trainees are provided with at least two years of mandatory structured activities to expose them to a wide range of biophysical methods, techniques, and research topics that go beyond their home graduate program. These training activities include, but are not limited to, a structural biology and biophysics graduate level course, a bi-weekly student research presentation series, a peer-organized student journal club and discussion group, an annual retreat trainee-centered retreat, and interactions with a larger local biophysics community. These activities are further supplemented with lectures and courses required or supported by MBTP and related UW departments. MBTP plays a special role at UW by actively nucleating a cross- departmental biophysics community. It fosters close interactions among trainees and their peer pre- doctoral students, who share common interests in molecular biophysics, but are otherwise separated by departments and graduate programs. By taking advantage of a growing body of UW faculty with biophysics background, MBTP creates a unique platform, where trainees learn about modern biophysical techniques, sharpen their communication skills, build and extend their professional network, establish and enhance their science identity and self-efficacy. The training program has a strong record of success and impact as evidenced by the diverse research-related career choices trainees make after they leave graduate school.
