University of Massachusetts Lowell BRITE (Biotechnology Research, Innovation, Training, and Education) Predoctoral Training Program - PROJECT SUMMARY We propose the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UMass Lowell) Biotechnology Research, Innovation, Training, and Education (BRITE) Predoctoral Training Program. The program includes 22 faculty mentors from nine departments (Biomedical, Chemical, Electrical, Mechanical, and Plastics Engineering, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, and Biomedical and Nutritional Sciences) across three colleges (Engineering, Sciences, and Health Sciences) with the aim of supporting eight predoctoral students each year. The goal of the BRITE Program is to produce outstanding scientists and leaders who are equipped with the operational, technical, and professional skills necessary to enter careers in biotechnology and biomedical sciences. Training grant-eligible applicants will be drawn from the rich pool of undergraduate and master’s students from the affiliated faculty’s research groups, as well as through recruitment efforts and will undergo a rigorous selection process. Proposed mentors include a mix of basic, translational, and applied researchers who are well-funded, highly collaborative, and have a strong, demonstrated commitment to mentoring and graduate education. Training areas fall within 5 themes: Medical Imaging, Optical Sensing & Biomedical Optics; Biomaterials, Tissue Engineering, & Regenerative Medicine; Materials, Polymers, Nanomaterials, & Surface Chemistry; Biomanufacturing and Metabolic & Process Engineering; and Life Sciences, Pathogens, Immunology, & Computational Biology. Strong collaborations among faculty members and local life-sciences industry in the Merrimack Valley and Greater Boston will open the door for experiential learning opportunities. Located in Lowell, 25 miles north of Boston, the largest hub of biomedical research in the world, UMass Lowell has been a large source of new scientists and engineers, and an active research institute in the community. However, the university’s focus has been mostly on undergraduate education, and our PhD programs have been relatively behind compared to Boston’s leading research institutes. Through this program we will organize and centralize our efforts to direct and support predoctoral students around a common program, which will allow us to recruit and retain highly qualified domestic candidates. The BRITE program is designed to impart our trainees with a deep understanding of the basic science underpinnings of biotechnology and the biomedical sciences as well as to provide them with real-world exposure through our internship program that fosters interaction between the trainees and the life-science industry. We expect that our trainees will be prepared to function as effective research scientists and leaders through training in key aspects of life-science-related work including effective communication skills, team building, career development, and personal wellness. The integrated, well-resourced, multidisciplinary training plan proposed in this application will provide our trainees with a rich set of skills, tools, and experiences that will serve as excellent preparation for a successful career and leadership in biotechnology and biomedical fields.
