Project Details
Description
7. PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The overall goal of the Rutgers Biotechnology Training Program is to provide outstanding predoctoral students
with an integrated multidisciplinary educational and research training experience in biotechnology. The specific
aims are to: 1) increase the number of well-trained PhDs able to conduct cutting-edge research in
biotechnology and related areas; 2) to increase the number of under-represented minorities receiving
biotechnology related-degrees; and 3) to enhance the overall training experience by re-envisioning predoctoral
education through a diversified set of enrichment activities with appropriate reinforcement throughout the
training period. This comprehensive program builds on our nearly 30 years of prior experience and continuous
NIGMS support in this area. Students in the program receive a broad understanding across biomedical
disciplines and the skills to independently acquire the knowledge needed to advance their field, as well as the
ability to think critically and independently, and to identify important research questions and approaches that
push forward the boundaries in their areas of study. The program provides 2 years of funding to meritorious
students, with the contractual understanding that students will participate in all program activities for their entire
graduate careers. The training experience involves a unifying and multifaceted curriculum which includes: 1)
specialized courses and experiential activities that provide the student with critical perspectives of the field
from multiple vantage points; 2) summer industrial internships; 3) training in responsible conduct of research
and rigor/reproducibility; 4) an annual symposium; and 5) a PhD dissertation research project in one of the
laboratories of our 43 participating faculty mentors who are appointed in many different life science and
engineering departments. We are requesting 13 NIH-funded predoctoral positions per year for 5 years. Rutgers
has committed significant matching fellowship support (7 matching fellowships), stipend and tuition
supplements, and other salary and administrative support. Industrial interaction is exceedingly strong, with
industrial investigators participating in the teaching of courses, presenting at the Annual Symposium, hosting
summer interns, providing matching support, serving on thesis committees, and occasionally hosting students
for a part of their PhD dissertation work. The participating graduate programs and departments, together with
several biotechnology related centers provide exceptional facilities for comprehensive biomedical
biotechnology research and education. Vigorous and extensive recruitment efforts are expended to attract
applicants to the program, and only students of exceptional abilities and motivation are admitted. The program
also vigorously recruits students from under-represented minorities into the biotechnology field with
documented excellent long-term success. Student progress is continuously monitored through progress reports
and via individual development plans. These documents, as well as surveys of the students’ progress in their
careers after they leave the university will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the program.
Status | Active |
---|---|
Effective start/end date | 7/1/20 → 6/30/25 |
Funding
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences: $456,362.00
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences: $423,629.00
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences: $460,879.00
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences: $466,535.00
Fingerprint
Explore the research topics touched on by this project. These labels are generated based on the underlying awards/grants. Together they form a unique fingerprint.