Training in Cellular, Biochemical and Molecular Sciences

Enter the text here that is the new abstract information for your application. This section must be no longer than 30 lines of text. The University of Rochester has worked to distinguish itself as an internationally recognized center for excellence in research, in part by training the next generation of scientists studying the molecular bases of human diseases. However, with increasingly rapid advancements in scientific techniques, the need for greater attention to rigor and reproducibility in research, and the recognition that today’s students use their PhD degrees in a wide range of careers in the biomedical sciences, there is a need to augment the institutional training of graduate students. This T32-sponsored Training Program significantly enhances our institutional training activities to augment the development of students’ skills in initiating, conducting, interpreting, and presenting rigorous and reproducible biomedical research with increasing self-direction. Moreover, T32 mentors will guide students to become more collaborative, and to understand fields ranging from cellular biology to the molecular behavior of molecules, to computational analyses of large data sets. T32 offerings will equip students with the tools and backgrounds to enable them to think broadly in terms of career choices, and to be inculcated in the skills and knowledge required for success in a professional environment. Our program will imbue students with skills in the ethical conduct of research, and in workplace professionalism. We will accomplish these goals through T32-sponsored courses and activities that ensure a broad knowledge of emerging technologies, cutting-edge methods, and skills required for rigorous experimental design, execution, and communication of results. We propose new programs for the training of mentors and for monitoring of both mentor and mentee progress. We leverage the T32 support by integrating these activities and learning opportunities throughout each student’s graduate career, and not just during the 1-year T32-appointment period. In addition, we extend T32-sponsored training opportunities to others by making the majority of proposed activities available to all students, regardless of training-grant eligibility. Importantly, we have established a long-term working relationship with Dr. Cathleen Cerosaletti, who specializes in STEM Evaluation and Research and is faculty in the University of Rochester Warner School of Education. Cerosaletti has put in place modern assessment protocols and metrics so that we can evolve and improve student training and mentoring in real-time. The proposed next phase of our Training Program will build on the initial funded period, as well as the 15 years of experience garnered from this previously T32-funded Training Program.