T32 Predoctoral training grant in Glycosciences

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This application requests T32 funding to support pre-doctoral training at the chemistry-biology interface at the University of Georgia. This award will replace the current T32 Glycoscience Training Program (GTP) that was established in 2014. The mission of the GTP is to train the next generation of glycoscience researchers and prepare them for impactful careers in the biomedical workforce. In 2012 the National Academy of Sciences and Engineering issued a report concluding that the Glycosciences were significantly understudied in the United States and encouraged government agencies including the NIH to develop training programs to accelerate discovery in this critical research area. Despite the significant role that glycans play in biology and medicine, no other T32 training program in the United States focuses on glycans; thus, the GTP broadens the scope of NIH- supported training programs. The GTP capitalizes on the uniquely rich environment for carbohydrate research that exists at the University of Georgia. Twenty-four researchers from eight departments will serve as trainers for a diverse group of pre-doctoral students. Trainees are selected from a pool of applicants that enter the university’s graduate program either through the Integrated Life Sciences (ILS) umbrella program or through admission into the Department of Chemistry. The grant will provide stipends for six trainees per year for two- year appointments. The university will provide funding for two additional trainees per year to expand the impact of the GTP. The principal objective of this program is to provide a broad background in glycoscience with the ability to carry that knowledge forward into a variety of careers. Training emphasizes scientific reasoning, rigor in research design, quantitative skills, and data analysis. All trainees will enroll in professional development courses on the Responsible Conduct of Research and on Rigor, Reproducibility, and Transparency, and take foundational courses in Glycochemistry and Glycobiology. All of these courses are open to any student, broadening the impact of the GTP beyond the T32-supported trainees. Trainees can select from a variety of courses to build knowledge and skills in analytical, computational, or biological methods. Opportunities will be provided to develop strong written and oral communication skills in coursework, journal clubs, and seminar programs. The trainers will provide a supportive, inclusive, and diverse training environment, and are committed to continuous improvement as mentors through participation in workshops and training programs on topics such as effective mentoring, safe space in the workplace, and implicit bias. Mentor effectiveness will be evaluated using metrics developed with a recent supplemental grant to T32 and T25 programs on the UGA campus, and these data will guide the continuous improvement of mentoring in the GTP. We will track student outcomes and use annual program evaluations to make evidence-based decisions to refine recruiting and training practices. Improved methods for mentoring and training will be disseminated widely to impact graduate training on a national scale.