Genomic Workforce Development Core

ABSTRACT The uniqueness of student diversity within the University of Hawaii (UH), and the vast state-wide interlinked undergraduate (UG) educational network and existing UG research programs, will enable us to create a diverse graduate-level (GR) ‘workforce-in-training’ program leading to careers in genomics. We term this "PoWER-G" - Promotion of Workforce Employment and Readiness in Genomics. The primary goal is to establish a robust integrated educational pipeline to develop a solid genomic and bioinformatic GR student training and professional development experience, which utilizes existing resources at UH at large and resources built at the proposed Pacific Center for Genome Research. Our interactive GR training program involves soft skills, research, and practical “on-the-degree” training and competencies, linked to the candidates' MS and Ph.D. degrees in genomics and/or related bioinformatics. Genomic Workforce Development Core Milestones: · Promote interests in genomic careers by supporting research endeavors of UGs and GRs. · Design and implement a foundational genomic core training that focuses on various Next-Generation Sequencing workflows including capabilities to run and maintain sequencing and other core instruments. · Ensure competencies in bench-top skills in order to produce high-quality data at each analytical step. · Build professional and soft-skill competencies in our trainees to advance their careers in genomics. Expected Outcomes for the Genomic Workforce Development Core: · Our genomic UG and GR candidates will represent Underrepresented Populations, as potentiated by the unique position of cultural and ethnic diversity, represented strongly at UH and the state. · Our genomic GR leaders (MS, Ph.D., and Post-Doctoral level) will diversify and strengthen genomic cores nationally and contribute to genomic research internationally. · Our genomic GR leaders will, in turn, become strong leaders, supervisors, and mentors for others. This training program will transition into a formal 1-year Graduate Certificate Program to meet the exponential growth in genomics and the present and future needs for a diverse workforce for genomic research and precision medicine. The Specific Aims of the Genomic Workforce Development Core are: Aim 1: Genomic education feeder pipeline. To initiate, identify, and support educational networks, both UG and GR, to develop a feeder pipeline for advancing Genomic skills. Aim 2: On-the-degree genomic training. To strengthen and support post-graduate pathways into Genomic research. Aim 3: Upskilling an advanced genomic workforce. To develop and promote an advanced workforce training platform to meet the current and future research and industrial needs in Genomics.