Graduate Training at The Chemistry Biology Interface - This Institutional Research Training Grant (T32) application seeks funding of the UMBC-UMB CBI program that has an overall objective to provide a pathway to produce Ph.D.-level scientists trained across disciplines who are strong leaders capable of tackling the broad challenges of the 21st century in, or adjacent to, the biomedical sciences. UMBC and UMB are leaders in developing trainees within science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and the UMBC-UMB CBI program has contributed to this success by producing strong and thriving Ph.D. graduates in the biomedical workforce thanks to funding by NIH for nearly 20 years. More than 40 T32 fellows have been previously supported by this program in its entirety, while nearly 175 trainees have received partial support. The program retention and graduation rates both average 97%, and career placements have been strong, leading to trainees in industry, government, science policy, scientific publishing, and academia. The current inter-institutional CBI program mentors nearly 45 trainees per year by a strong network of 35 research-active faculty and is overseen by internal and external advisory boards. The future program has the following measurable objectives of those taking part in the UMBC-UMB CBI program: 1) to improve the percentage of those who complete their respective Ph.D. programs; 2) to improve the time to degree completion of those who complete their respective Ph.D. programs; 3) to increase the number of publications output; 4) to increase the number of conferences attended; 5) to improve the job outcomes of those who complete their respective Ph.D. programs. The trainees take part in a well-constructed CBI program comprising: didactic instruction at the chemistry-biology interface (CHEM/BIOL 603 “Introduction to the Chemistry-Biology Interface” and CHEM 715 “Issues at the Chemistry Biology Interface”); reinforced education in responsible, rigorous, and reproducible research; required implementation of hands-on cross-disciplinary research; and recurring support to attend national and international conferences, among other important programmatic components. Significant and meaningful supplementary monetary contributions are provided, including matching funds from the respective Departments and Institutions to afford the ability of all trainees to take part in every benefit of the program and to provide an outsized effect on all CBI trainees.
