T32 Transdisciplinary Training in Biomedical Science and Bioengineering at the University of Rhode Island - With this proposal, we aim to bring together predoctoral graduate students and faculty from across the University of Rhode Island (URI) who specialize in biology, human health, neuroscience, and biomedical engineering into a transdisciplinary training program in Biomedical Sciences and Bioengineering (BSBE). URI faculty includes experts in basic and applied biomedical sciences with renowned research programs that impact all aspects of human health, focusing on microbial pathogenesis, DNA repair, neurodegenerative diseases, drug delivery, wearable technologies, the brain-machine interface, movement disorders, and addictive behaviors. This training program will serve as a bridge between the Colleges of the Environment and Life Sciences (CELS), Engineering (COE) and Health Sciences (CHS), whose missions include integrating scientific discovery, education, and real-life applications to create a strong transdisciplinary training program. Trainees from the Interdisciplinary Neurosciences Program (INP) require related skill sets and are focused on human health, and they will be included in the proposed program. Many preceptor faculty members have affiliations with both an academic college and the INP. With this new collaborative predoctoral training program at URI, we will provide broad health-related training and career-enhancing professional development activities for Ph.D.-level graduate students in Biomedical Sciences and Bioengineering with applications for real-world health settings. We will leverage our cross-college efforts to improve collaborations among our pool of trainees in predoctoral programs and in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), and we will engage with local university partners to improve biomedical training, including RI-INBRE (Rhode Island IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence). With the new structure of the umbrella training program in Biomedical Science and Bioengineering, we will focus on developing a cohort of future biomedical scientists by delivering in-depth research and scientific training, providing a rigorous and supportive experience that promotes leadership, fosters independence, and provides professional development opportunities to enhance individuals’ career paths, whether they be bench- or translational-scientists. This training program will have a significant impact on workforce development and the scientific economy in Rhode Island, where URI is the only public university in the state offering Ph.D. level training.
