Graduate Training in Molecular Biology and Biophysics - SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The Molecular Biology and Biophysics Training Program (MBBTP) at the University of Oregon (UO) seeks to train rigorous, skilled, and innovative scientists, preparing them for productive careers at the forefront of modern molecular biology and biophysics, whether it be in an academic, corporate, or nonprofit context. We are requesting funds for 9 predoctoral positions within a program that includes 27 training faculty who collectively mentor 91 graduate students and 28 postdoctoral fellows. The program bridges four departments, three research institutes, and both the main UO campus and the new Knight Campus for Accelerated Scientific Impact. Over the last five years, we added seven excellent new trainers, including four that expand our strengths in biophysics (Widom, and Mascarenhas, Ray), three that bolster our expertise in protein engineering (Hettiaratchi, Hosseinzadeh, Plesa), and one that builds in chemical biology (Rapp). Students will be appointed to the MBBTP at the start of their second year and will participate in the program until graduation. The T32-funded portion of the program will last for two years (years 2 and 3) of each student’s training. The training program is designed to (1) Empower students to lead cutting-edge molecular and biophysical life sciences research within an interdisciplinary context. (2) Develop and employ high standards of rigor, ethics, and safety. (3) Launch their post-graduate scientific careers by helping them identify desirable careers in biomedical research or related fields and positioning them for successful entry. Individualized mentored research training is the core of the MBBTP. Through this experience, trainees become skilled at posing questions about fundamental biological processes and designing and executing experiments to answer those questions. The training is augmented by formal courses that cover core molecular biology, biochemistry, and biophysics areas, as well computing, statistics, and ethical conduct of research. The laboratory research and coursework are surrounded with a wealth of program-enhancing and cohort-building experiences. Examples include student-organized MBBTP cohort activities, journal clubs and discussions with visiting speakers from academia, industry, and government. Trainees become experienced science communicators by giving regular seminars on their research and participating in highly interactive journal clubs. An involved Dissertation Advisory Committee and annual mandatory Individual Development Plans (IDPs) ensure active mentoring. The program gives students the opportunity to explore different career paths in the biosciences and to build the professional development skills to follow these paths through a required career exploration course and an accompanying internship program for life science PhDs. Thus, our program fosters fulfilling and individualized graduate training experiences that prepare students to become next generation of scientific leaders.
