Training in Molecular Biophysics and Structural Biology

分子生物物理学和结构生物学培训

• 批准号: 9305776
• 负责人: James F. Conway
• 金额: $ 18.64万
• 依托单位: UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-07-01 至 2021-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9305776
• 关键词: Biophysics; Molecular; Training; structural biology

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal seeks renewal of funding to support and extend a successful interdisciplinary predoctoral program that prepares students with strong backgrounds in quantitative physical sciences to conceptualize, conduct, and direct independent research in molecular biophysics and structural biology. The Molecular Biophysics and Structural Biology (MBSB) graduate program places a strong emphasis on inter- disciplinary, collaborative research in an environment where the practical human health consequences of research are appreciated and contribute to guiding and driving basic research. The training faculty has expanded to 54 independent investigators spread over 14 departments within the School of Medicine and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh, and within the Mellon College of Science at Carnegie Mellon University. Senior researchers have strong records in graduate training, funding, and publications, and the program also includes junior faculty who bring new ideas and technical expertise to the group. The research programs of training faculty emphasize not only characterization of biomolecular phenomena but also development of new methodologies. The relationship between physical methods and biological understanding is a key aspect of the curriculum. Research is focused on core areas at the forefront of biomolecular science, including membrane proteins, protein-protein interactions and oligomeric complexes, nucleic acid structure and protein-nucleic acid interactions, poorly structured protein elements, protein misfolding and aggregation, and small molecule ligand-protein interactions. The training program includes a first-year core curriculum featuring an introduction to biophysical instrumentation and methods, how these are used to address specific molecular questions, an introduction to theory and simulation of biomolecular behavior, and courses on statistical analysis, computer programming and ethics. Students' abilities to synthesize and creatively utilize what they have learned in the classroom are tested in a qualifying exam that requires them to construct and defend a research proposal not related to their own laboratory work. After passing this exam students move on to develop and pursue their thesis project. Students are required to participate in a weekly journal/data club and to attend a Molecular Biophysics seminar series featuring invited local and national speakers. An annual program Symposium is held with invited speakers and student participation through talks and posters. This renewal builds on the successes of the MBSB program and its unique and rich blend of faculty expertise favoring cross-disciplinary and co-mentored thesis projects to prepare students for success in the modern research environment. We are requesting funds to continue support for four traineeships and extend this to the six originally envisioned with the goal of training a new generation of molecular biophysicists and structural biologists who will be leaders in future efforts to understand normal and abnormal human biology at the physical and molecular level.

 描述（由申请人提供）：该提案寻求资金更新，以支持和扩展一个成功的跨学科博士预科课程，该课程为具有定量物理科学背景的学生做好准备，以概念化，进行和指导分子生物物理学和结构生物学的独立研究。分子生物物理学和结构生物学（MBSB）研究生课程非常重视跨学科的合作研究，在这种环境中，研究对人类健康的实际影响受到重视，并有助于指导和推动基础研究。培训教师已扩大到54名独立调查员，分布在匹兹堡大学医学院和艺术与科学学院的14个系，以及卡内基梅隆大学梅隆科学学院。高级研究人员在研究生培训，资金和出版物方面有着良好的记录，该计划还包括为该集团带来新思想和技术专业知识的初级教师。培训教师的研究计划不仅强调生物分子现象的表征，还强调新方法的开发。物理方法和生物理解之间的关系是课程的一个关键方面。研究集中在生物分子科学前沿的核心领域，包括膜蛋白，蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用和寡聚复合物，核酸结构和蛋白质-核酸相互作用，结构不良的蛋白质元件，蛋白质错误折叠和聚集，以及小分子配体-蛋白质相互作用。培训计划包括第一年的核心课程，介绍生物物理仪器和方法，如何使用这些来解决特定的分子问题，介绍生物分子行为的理论和模拟，以及统计分析，计算机编程和伦理学课程。学生的综合和创造性地利用他们在课堂上学到的东西的能力在资格考试中进行测试，要求他们构建和捍卫与自己的实验室工作无关的研究提案。通过考试后，学生继续发展和追求他们的论文项目。学生必须参加每周期刊/数据俱乐部，并参加分子生物物理学研讨会系列邀请当地和国家的发言人。每年举行一次专题讨论会，邀请演讲者和学生通过讲座和海报参与。这种更新建立在MBSB计划的成功及其独特而丰富的教师专业知识的基础上，有利于跨学科和共同指导的论文项目，为学生在现代研究环境中取得成功做好准备。我们正在申请资金继续支持四个培训项目，并将其扩展到最初设想的六个项目，目标是培养新一代的分子生物学家和结构生物学家，他们将成为未来在物理和分子水平上了解正常和异常人类生物学的领导者。