Structural and Computational Biophysics Training Program

描述（由申请人提供）：本提案从国家普通医学科学研究所（NIGMS）的分子生物物理学计划中寻求NRSA机构博士前培训资助。这项资助将支持结构和计算生物物理学（SCB）的博士前培训，最终获得维克森林大学的博士学位。SCB培训计划的目标是弥合生物医学科学与更基本的定量科学之间的培训差距。SCB培训教师是跨部门的高度协作，包括来自物理、化学、生物化学和分子医学的教师。学生接受结构生物学（x射线和核磁共振）、计算生物学、蛋白质组学和生物物理学方面的培训。SCB培训计划的主要科学主题包括DNA损伤和修复，氧化还原生物学和分子信号传导的重叠区域。该项目有一个灵活的课程，旨在满足项目中学生的个性化需求，并包括一个完善的跨学科研讨会和教程系统，以促进项目成员之间的互动。除了作为博士生导师的SCB培训教师外，我们还有一个完善的资源教师网络，通过教育创新，指导核心实验室（结构生物学和生物物理学培训的核心），以及提供职业建议和与生物技术行业建立联系，为研究生的培训做出贡献。我们为博士毕业生提供各种潜在职业的具体技能培训，包括学术职业，生物技术和制药行业的职业，以及知识产权领域的职业。我们已经开发了一个管道，其中硕士学位的学生在物理，数学和计算机科学可以获得结构和计算生物物理学证书，提供过渡到博士培训在我们的项目。同样，我们在招收生物科学博士生进行结构和计算研究方面也有很好的记录。我们有一个积极的项目，招收在科学领域代表性不足的少数民族的学生加入我们的培训项目。从培训学院实验室的25-30名稳定水平的学生中，申请资助4个博士前职位。这些职位将用于支持第二年或以后的学生，届时他们的论文研究显然与该计划的目标一致。支持期限最多为两年，之后学生将获得其导师的研究资金或他们自己的个人奖学金。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal seeks funding for an NRSA Institutional Predoctoral Training Grant from the Molecular Biophysics Program of the National Institute for General Medical Sciences (NIGMS). This grant will support predoctoral training in Structural and Computational Biophysics (SCB) leading to a Ph.D. degree at Wake Forest University. The goal of the SCB Training Program is to bridge the gap in training between biomedical sciences and more basic quantitative sciences. The SCB training faculty is highly collaborative across departmental lines, and includes faculty members from Physics, Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Molecular Medicine. Students are trained in structural biology (X-ray and NMR), computational biology, proteomics, and biophysics. The major scientific themes of the SCB Training Program include the overlapping areas of DNA damage and repair, redox biology, and molecular signaling. The Program has a flexible curriculum that is designed to meet the individual needs of the students in the program, and includes a well-developed system of interdisciplinary seminars and tutorials to promote interaction among members of the program. In addition to the SCB training faculty, who will serve as mentors for Ph.D. students, we also have a well-established network of resource faculty that contribute to the training of graduate students through educational innovation, direction of Core Laboratories that are central to training in structural biology and biophysics, and provision of career advice and networking with biotechnology industries. We offer specific training in skills for a wide variety of potential careers for our Ph.D. graduates, including academic careers, careers in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, as well as careers in the intellectual property arena. We have developed a pipeline in which Masters' degree students in Physics, Mathematics and Computer Science can obtain a certificate in Structural and Computational Biophysics that provides a transition into Ph.D. training in our program. Similarly, we have an excellent track record of engaging Ph.D. students in biological sciences in structural and computational research. We have an active program of recruiting students from ethnic groups that are underrepresented in science into our training program. Funding is requested for 4 predoctoral positions out of the steady state level of 25-30 students in the laboratories of the training faculty. These positions will be used to support students in the second year or beyond, at which time it will be apparent that their dissertation research is consistent with the goals of the Program. Support will be for a maximum of two years, after which the students will be supported by the research funding of their advisors or their own individual fellowships.