Quantitative Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology (QCMDB) Training Program

About This Grant

This is a new proposal to develop a Quantitative Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology (QCMDB) Training Program at Northwestern University. The QCMDB Training Program will support comprehensive pre-doctoral graduate training in the biomedical sciences, focusing on the cellular, molecular, and developmental mechanisms used in biological systems and targeted by diseases impacting human health. The mission of the QCMDB Training Program is to develop PhD students with a broad understanding across biomedical disciplines while instructing them with the skills to think critically, conduct rigorous scientific reasoning and practice, and communicate their work to a broad range of audiences. The outcome of this mission will be the development of a modern biomedical workforce that will populate every niche of society, ranging from academia, education, industry, and law, to the government. The objectives of the QCMDB Training Program are designed in alignment with NIGMS goals for predoctoral training and are organized into three interrelated areas: Foundational Biomedical Training and Education, Communication and Collaboration in Research, and Career Exploration and Development. Program goals are achieved through structured didactic coursework and enrichment activities, which are constantly evolving to meet the challenges contemporary PhD students face. The desired outcome is to create a supportive and safe scientific training environment that will set all trainees on a trajectory toward independence in thought and action. QCMDB trainees will be selected from two integrated interdepartmental graduate programs: the Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Graduate Program and the Driskill Graduate Program in the Life Sciences. Students will be appointed to the QCMDB Training Program at the beginning of their second year and supported for two years. The 28 faculty preceptors in the Program are drawn from four departments across two schools and represent the full range of research fields that compose modern and quantitative cell, molecular, and developmental biology. QCMDB preceptors are proactive in developing excellence in training and mentoring, and preceptors will be required to regularly receive training in mentorship and best practices to promote rigorous, safe, and supportive research training environments for all trainees. Northwestern University's commitment to the Training Program provides funds for two affiliate trainee slots in addition to the eight NIGMS-funded slots requested. The affiliate slots expand the impact of the training program by increasing the number of trainees who will directly benefit from all program activities. By the end of the funding period, 25 QCMDB trainees will be equipped with the requisite knowledge and skills to address outstanding problems in contemporary biomedical science from broad perspectives.