PREDOCTORAL TRAINING IN MOLECULAR BIOPHYSICS

描述(由申请人提供)：本提案要求为威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校的NIH分子生物物理学培训计划(MBTP)续期提供资金。分子生物物理学对生物学采取定量的、物理的、非唯象的方法，这种方法牢固地植根于凝聚态物理和物理化学的原理。生物物理学家的主要动机是他们对生物系统如何在分子水平上工作的好奇心。他们经常负责开发最先进的测量方法，最终提高包括医学研究人员在内的所有生物科学家的能力。MBTP实习生是一群备受欢迎的研究生，他们将数学和物理方面的优势与对复杂生物系统的真正兴趣结合在一起。我们目前学员的GRE量化平均分为760分，满分为800分。培训计划的关键要素是确保所有受训人员在物理和生物原理方面有坚实的基础的核心课程工作；分子生物物理学前沿的强有力的跨学科研究；适当进行科学研究的课程工作和非正式培训；与第二年成立的论文/指导委员会的密切互动，并在整个博士课程期间与受训人员保持密切联系。威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校提供了大量的研讨会、海报会议和辅助课程，极大地提高了学员的科学广度。在过去的两年里，我们大幅改变了MBTP和密切相关的生物物理学研究生学位课程(BGDP)的管理结构和内容。现在，一个单一的生物物理学指导委员会同时管理MBTP和BGDP。我们正在努力在威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校创建一个更有凝聚力的生物物理学学生社区。新的要求确保了校园内所有生物物理学学生的培训经验的一致性，无论是MBTP学员(无论是哪个部门)还是BGDP学生。通过每周一次的生物物理学研讨会课程、海报会议、生物物理学晚会，所有生物物理学专业的学生都有很多机会与教员培训人员互动和相互交流。通过利用与校园现有外展计划的现有联系，MBTP培训员将加强持续的努力，增加未被充分代表的少数族裔学生参与MBTP和BGDP。为了加强问责制，任何接受新受训人员的培训员都将被要求每年参加一项有意义的外联活动。在未来的资助期间，我们还计划通过离职面谈和对博士毕业后至少五年的前受训人员进行定期调查，改善对MBTP有效性的自我评估。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal requests funding for renewal of an NIH Training Program in Molecular Biophysics (the MBTP) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Molecular biophysics takes a quantitative, physical, non- phenomenological approach to biology that is firmly rooted in the principles of condensed-phase physics and Physical chemistry. Biophysicists are driven primarily by their curiosity about how biological systems work at the molecular level. They are often responsible for development of state-of-the-art measurements that eventually enhance the capabilities of all biological scientists, including medical researchers. The MBTP Trainees are a highly sought cohort of graduate students combining strength in mathematics and physical science with a genuine interest in complex biological systems. Our current Trainees have a mean GRE Quantitative score of 760 on a scale of 800. The key elements in the Training Program are core coursework that ensures that all Trainees have a firm grounding in physical and biological principles; strong, interdisciplinary research at the forefront of molecular biophysics; coursework and informal training in proper conduct of scientific research; and close interaction with a thesis/mentoring committee that is formed in the second year and maintains a strong connection with the Trainee throughout the Ph.D. program. The UW- Madison offers a tremendous range of seminars, poster sessions, and auxiliary coursework that greatly enhance the scientific breadth of our Trainees. In the past two years, we have substantially altered the administrative structure and the content of the MBTP and the closely related Biophysics Graduate Degree Program (BGDP). A single Biophysics Steering Committee now administers both the MBTP and the BGDP. We are working hard to create a more coherent community of biophysics students on the UW-Madison campus. New requirements ensure uniformity of the training experiences of all biophysics students on campus, both MBTP Trainees (regardless of home department) and BGDP students. Through a common, weekly Biophysics Seminar class, poster sessions, Biophysics Evenings, all biophysics students share many opportunities to interact with faculty Trainers and with each other. By leveraging existing connections with outreach programs already existing on campus, the MBTP Trainers will enhance ongoing efforts to increase participation of underrepresented minority students in both the MBTP and the BGDP. To enforce accountability, any Trainer who accepts a new Trainee will be required to participate in one meaningful outreach activity each year. In the coming grant period, we also plan to improve self-evaluation of the effectiveness of the MBTP via exit interviews and a periodic survey of former Trainees at least five years after their Ph.D.