Predoctoral Training Program in Chemistry & Biology

描述(由申请者提供)：芝加哥大学生物化学和分子生物学系(BMB)和化学系(CHEM)建议继续和扩大针对化学和生物科学的跨学科博士前培训计划。该项目强调交叉训练，注重综合和机械方面的重点。在首席调查员与教师指导委员会和由教师参与者指定的联合主任/联合首席调查员密切磋商的指导下，该计划通过招聘教师和引入跨学科科学的新课程，进行了显著的扩展。BMB的9名教职员工，化学的7名教职员工，以及病理学、神经生物学、药理学和生理学系各1名教职员工构成了该计划的教学部分。该项目自六年前启动以来，已招募了七名新教师。交叉训练是通过以下方式实现的：(1)圆满地完成另一学科系的两门课程作为选修课；(2)在研究生第一年春季季度最初被任命参加该项目时，在另一学科参与该项目的教员的指导下进行选修课轮换；(3)由主要研究顾问与另一系的联合顾问协调指导学生-受训者，直至最后的博士学位口头答辩时间；以及(4)参加整个学年的一系列月度会议，以了解理论概念和方法，这些会议被指定为“化学与生物界面的讨论”。教师广泛的跨学科研究兴趣，通过合作研究项目和互动得到加强，确保了有意义的交叉培训经验的各种机会。与六年前致力于跨学科研究和教学的最初的少数教员核心形成对比的是，该项目目前享有广泛的教职员工支持，并为培养学生在化学和生物领域进行尖端研究提供了一个支持性环境。在下一个10个月期间，通过将所有参与的BMB和化学教员的实验室迁至新的司际研究所，将大大加强这一点。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (BMB) and the Department of Chemistry (Chem) at The University of Chicago propose continuation and expansion of an interdisciplinary, predoctoral training program directed at the interface of the chemical and biological sciences. The program emphasizes crosstraining with a synthetic and mechanistic focus. Under the direction of the Principal Investigator in close consultation with a faculty Steering Committee and the co-director/co-principal investigator designated by faculty participants, the program has undergone significant expansion through faculty recruitment and introduction of new courses in interdisciplinary science. Nine faculty members with appointments in BMB, seven in Chem, and one each in the Departments of Pathology and of Neurobiology, Pharmacology, & Physiology form the teaching component of the program. Seven new faculty members have been recruited to the program since its initiation six years ago. Cross-training is achieved by: (1) satisfactory completion of two courses in the department of the other scientific discipline as electives; (2) an elective research rotation under the guidance of a participating faculty member in the other discipline upon initial appointment to the program in the Spring Quarter of the first year of graduate study; (3) coordinated mentoring of student-trainees by the primary research advisor together with a co-advisor of the other department up to the time of the final Ph. D. oral defense; and (4) participation in a series of monthly meetings throughout the academic year designated as "Discussions at the Interface of Chemistry & Biology" to gain acquaintance with theoretical concepts and methods. The broad scope of the interdisciplinary research interests of the faculty, strengthened through collaborative research projects and interactions, ensures a large variety of opportunities for a meaningful cross-training experience. In contrast to the initial, small nucleus of faculty committed to cross-disciplinary research and teaching six years ago, the program presently enjoys broad faculty support and offers a supportive environment for training of students in cutting-edge research at the interface of chemistry and biology. This will be significantly enhanced through relocation of the laboratories of all participating BMB and Chem faculty into the new Institute for Interdivisional Research over the next 10-month period.