Graduate Training Grant in Genetics

SUMMARY/ABSTRACT This application requests funding to support eight predoctoral students in the University of Oregon’s Genetics Training Program (GTP). The students will train with one of 27 faculty mentors whose expertise collectively span the subdisciplines of molecular, developmental, and evolutionary genetics. The mission of the GTP is to provide PhD students with rigorous, well-rounded, and individualized training as geneticists that enables them to develop their own scientific identities and pursue fulfilling careers in diverse scientific professions. The cohort of trainees will share required coursework in foundational genetics, biostatistics, computer programming, and responsible conduct of research. Trainees will conduct mentored research and individualized courses of study to deepen their domain knowledge and grow their identities as scientific experts. Through a Career Development Program, trainees will develop an understanding of the landscape of career opportunities available to them and will examine their own talents and passions to identify career trajectories of interest. As members of a learning community that values honesty, transparency, and rigor, our trainees develop into responsible scientific leaders. The programmatic goals of the GTP are to: 1) Train graduate students to be fluent in foundational genetic concepts, modern experimental techniques, and quantitative analytical approaches, enabling them to make scientific discoveries that advance the field of genetics; 2) Prepare graduate students to be independent professionals with the knowledge and skills to pursue fulfilling careers within the biomedical research enterprise that build on their foundational knowledge of genetics; 3) Empower graduate students to be conscientious citizens of the scientific community who uphold high standards of scientific rigor and reproducibility, safe practices, and ethical conduct, and who shoulder the responsibility of communicating genetic concepts to the lay public. We propose a robust evaluation framework to assess the effectiveness of our training activities in achieving these goals and to implement programmatic changes to best serve the training needs of a diverse cohort of students. The impacts of this program will be to advance new knowledge in genetics, contribute to a diverse and productive research workforce, and promote a culture of ethical, responsible, and trustworthy science.