Graduate Training in Genetics

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7. PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Continued support is requested for a predoctoral training program in Genetics at the University of Oregon. The primary objective of the Genetics Training Program is to prepare scientists for productive careers at the forefront of modern genetics, whether it be in an academic, corporate, or governmental context. We aim to (i) train students to become creative, rigorous, and experimentally skilled scientists with a deep and broad understanding of gene function and heredity; (ii) teach students to communicate science effectively to the lay public, professional colleagues, and students in the classroom; and (iii) prepare students to bring this expertise into the workforce by offering diverse opportunities to develop professional skills. Funds are requested for 9 predoctoral trainee positions within a program that includes 25 training faculty, ~45 predoctoral students and ~40 postdoctoral fellows. The program brings together students and faculty from three research institutes (Molecular Biology, Neuroscience, Ecology & Evolution) and two Departments (Biology, Chemistry & Biochemistry). Our program includes groups with expertise in evolution, genomics, bioinformatics, biochemistry, and development. A robust collaborative spirit is fostered by the overlapping research interests of training faculty, our diversity of technical expertise, the close proximity of our laboratories, and a culture that places a high value on interaction and cooperation. The faculty have strong funding and publication records, and excellent track records of training students who go on to productive careers in the biomedical sciences. Recent hires have shifted our group toward younger faculty using state-of- the-art imaging, genomic, and quantitative approaches, and coalesced strengths in vertebrate genetics, host- microbe interactions, and genome function. Although we maintain a strength in basic research, the research of training faculty has increasingly focused on topics that are directly relevant to human health. These include the use of mouse and zebrafish to model human disorders, and the effects of microbiota on vertebrate development and disease. Practical research training under the mentorship of first-rate scientists provides the backbone of our program. We ensure a solid intellectual foundation by requiring trainees to take coursework in three core areas (molecular, developmental, and evolutionary genetics) and in Biological Statistics. We surround the lab and coursework with a wealth of broadening experiences, including teaching, student research talks, journal clubs, and career development workshops. Trainees become experienced science communicators through regular journal club presentations and seminars on their thesis research. An involved Thesis Committee and annual Individual Development Plans ensure active mentoring and fulfilling graduate training experiences that prepare students to become next generation scientific leaders.