Systems and Integrative Biology Training Program

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Abstract: Our proposed Systems and Integrative Biology training program will support cross-disciplinary training in quantitative and systems approaches for students across the basic science PhD programs the University of Michigan Medical School. An overarching goal of the proposed program is to prepare participating PhD students with the broad knowledge, understanding, and insight into quantitative and systems approaches that will be necessary for them to readily adopt and adapt emerging technologies throughout their careers. Beyond simply providing training in specific computational methods or software tools, this training program seeks to achieve this broader goal by targeting a number of innovative objectives, including providing unique resources for career developing, building collaborative networks, delivering dynamic flexible training in quantitative and computational methods, and a flexible portfolio-based approach to tracking and demonstrating individual progress. Moreover, the program proposal describes an innovative approach to disseminating resources developed under this program, to substantially magnify the impact of this SIB training program beyond its impact on the relatively few trainees and mentors enrolled in the program. These, and other defining objectives of the SIB program will be achieved through a number of initiatives and activities that will facilitate SIB trainees to conduct and communicate leading-edge integrative research in a multidisciplinary setting. These activities and initiatives include formal requirements such as a course curriculum, mentor training, development of individual development plans, and a training and program assessment, as well as monthly workshops that bring together faculty mentors, current and past trainees to present and discuss works in progress, present questions, propose and demonstrate solutions, teach one another, and work together on current research problems. The ultimate goal of our program is for SIB trainees to be highly sought-after to fill rewarding positions in academia, industry, and government laboratories, as well as a variety of non-traditional careers where their training gives them the skills to excel in areas of educational leadership, science communication, patent law, translational medicine, and science policy.