Molecular and Cellular Biophysics Training Grant

The University of North Carolina (UNC) Molecular and Cellular Biophysics Program (MCBP) is a successful interdisciplinary graduate training program with a mission to train graduate students to conduct biomedical research, probing the molecular and cellular processes of life and disease using biophysical approaches. The MCBP has three core objectives: 1. Attract a cohort of talented graduate students to apply the methods and concepts of the quantitative and mathematical sciences to problems in biology; 2. Provide training in fundamental biophysical principles and techniques important for developing molecular-level descriptions of complex biological systems and processes; 3. Provide professional training to enable and potentiate career trajectories in the biological sciences. This proposal requests 10 training slots to support 5 students in their second year and 5 students in their third year of graduate school. The MCBP fulfills a specific need at UNC, uniting graduate students and faculty across the campus under a comprehensive molecular and cellular biophysics training program. The program selects students from a variety of UNC graduate school-admitting portals including biological sciences, chemistry, and physics, that align with the academic interests of our 36 faculty, who are drawn from 9 departments from across the School of Medicine, the School of Pharmacy, and the College of Arts and Sciences. Our students and faculty share an interest in characterizing and modeling the biophysical behavior of macromolecules and cellular systems. By promoting interactions across biology, physics, and chemistry, MCBP students gain proficiency in cross-disciplinary science and communication. Students complete rigorous coursework in small classes rooted in the theory, and application of biophysics. Students become trained in the responsible conduct of research and rigor and reproducibility. Specific training includes core classes in the principles of the molecular and thermodynamic behavior of macromolecules, elective courses in methods to investigate macromolecular structure and function and behavior, both in vitro and in cells, and a seminar class in biophysics where students are trained in scientific presentations, communication and critique, attend seminars, and meet with visiting speakers. The MCBP further promotes student development through the Biophysics Colloquium, by hosting a biennial North Carolina Biophysics Symposium, a class in written communication, career panels with program graduates, and via student advising. Over its 28-year history, MCBP graduates have used the skills they developed in the program to become leaders in research and education across academics and industry.