IGERT Plant System Biology Interdisciplinary Graduate Training Program

随着植物基因组序列的完成和大量大型数据集的出现，出现了在计算基因组学、系统建模和植物科学的界面上培训植物系统生物学学生的基本需求。这一全新的跨学科计划将为研究生提供一个独特的培训环境，并将使他们处于系统生物学的前沿，以应对植物科学家和农业生物技术面临的主要挑战。该计划将包括由来自不同学科的两名导师在两个实验室对每个学生进行重点辅导。通过招聘新的教师，一个全新的课程将培训学生后基因组植物科学、蛋白质组学、系统生物学和网络建模，并将包括严格的职业生涯准备。一个充满活力的外展计划将帮助招收代表人数不足的学生。行业实习将利用当地活跃的生物技术领域。这个项目有几个更广泛的影响。植物系统生物学的跨学科培训将刺激该国农业和生物技术行业的创新，满足全球养活不断增长的人口的需求，并有助于减少农业对环境的影响。未来几十年，淡水和食品短缺预计将大幅增加。植物生物技术和分子育种将为解决这些问题做出强有力的贡献。这一全面的教育计划将在系统建模和植物科学的界面上培训研究生，并将产生深远的影响，培养出训练有素的科学家，他们将成为基因组信息革命所产生的领域的领导者。IGERT是一个NSF范围内的项目，旨在应对培养具有跨学科背景、所选学科的深厚知识以及满足未来职业需求所需的技术、专业和个人技能的美国博士科学家和工程师的挑战。该项目旨在通过建立创新的研究生教育和培训新模式，在超越传统学科界限的合作研究的肥沃环境中，催化研究生教育的文化变革。

With the completion of plant genome sequences and with numerous large data sets emerging, an essential need has arisen to train students in plant systems biology at the interface of computational genomics, systems modeling and plant sciences. This entirely new interdisciplinary program will provide a unique training environment for graduate students and will position them at the frontier of systems biology to address major challenges facing plant scientists and agricultural biotechnology. The program will include focused mentoring of each student in two labs by two advisors from distinct disciplines. An entirely new curriculum, made possible through new faculty recruitment, will train students in post genomic plant sciences, proteomics, systems biology and network modeling and will include rigorous professional career preparation. A dynamic outreach program will assist in the recruitment of underrepresented students. Industry internships will draw upon the local active biotechnology arena. There are several broader impacts of this project. Interdisciplinary training in plant systems biology will stimulate innovations in the nation's agricultural and biotechnology industries, address global needs to feed the growing population and contribute to reducing environmental impacts of agriculture. Fresh water and food shortages are predicted to grow substantially in the coming decades. Plant biotechnology and molecular breeding will provide powerful contributions toward solving these problems. This comprehensive educational program will train graduate students at the interface of systems modeling and plant sciences and will have far-reaching impacts by producing highly trained scientists who will emerge as leaders in fields arising from the revolution in genomics information. IGERT is an NSF-wide program intended to meet the challenges of educating U.S. Ph.D. scientists and engineers with the interdisciplinary background, deep knowledge in a chosen discipline, and the technical, professional, and personal skills needed for the career demands of the future. The program is intended to catalyze a cultural change in graduate education by establishing innovative new models for graduate education and training in a fertile environment for collaborative research that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries.