Training Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology and Genetics

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PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT The CMBG program trains graduate students for the PhD degree in Cell & Molecular Biology and Genetics. The program includes 54 proposed faculty from 8 basic science departments and is the only graduate training program at the Albert Einstein College with a broad, interdisciplinary research emphasis designed to increase understanding of biological processes and lays the foundation for advances in disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. This application replaces a pre-existing program with support for 14 trainees (~7 appointed/year). Over the past 15 years, our CMBG program graduated 84 PhD students, including 25 under-represented minority students. More than 95% of graduates continued in science-related careers. Overall objectives are for students to perform significant basic science research projects, to acquire rigorous scientific background and experimental training, to develop and defend their PhD thesis in a timely manner, and to develop into independent scientists who make long-term contributions in the biomedical sciences. Training faculty are selected based on research excellence in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, and Genetics, and on their commitment to mentor students and to provide an outstanding and safe training environment. All but ESI faculty members have substantial mentoring experience and funding; mechanisms are in place to assist junior faculty in mentoring students and to provide additional oversight for students in their labs. Trainees enter Einstein through a single Graduate School portal. They receive formal training in the responsible conduct of research and teaching. Students complete 3 research rotations in the first year and undertake rigorous coursework, including CMBG-foundation courses organized and taught by our Assoc. Directors and trainers. Students write a grant proposal-type qualifying exam based on their PhD research and defend it orally to an interdisciplinary faculty committee. Students are reviewed by the CMBG Advisory Committee after the first and second years and interviewed by the Program Director prior to appointment for a proposed 2 years of funding. CMBG program activities build a coherent training effort in which students participate until completion of the PhD. Trainees present their work yearly in an active work-in-progress series and host an annual student-invited exceptional seminar speaker. Annual program retreats include talks by senior students, posters, workshops, discussions of ethics and rigor, and presentations from CMBG alumni to provide career perspectives. At all events, our CMBG trainers, Advisory Committee, Director, and Assoc. Directors provide input on research directions, rigor of the experimental strategy, presentation skills, and publication strategies. The CMBG Advisory Committee provides additional oversight on trainees’ progress, with a committee member assigned to each trainee. These features make the program a vibrant, highly interactive community of faculty and students involved in key basic science questions relevant to human health. Students graduate with a required first-author publication (or submission), with the scientific background, research skills, and critical thought process necessary for an independent career in science.