PREDOCTORAL TRAINING IN MOLECULAR BIOPHYSICS

描述（由申请人提供）：本提案请求为威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校的NIH分子生物物理学培训计划（MBTP）的更新提供资金。分子生物物理学采用一种定量的、物理的、非现象学的方法来研究生物学，这种方法牢牢扎根于凝聚态物理和物理化学的原理。生物物理学家主要是出于对生物系统如何在分子水平上工作的好奇心。他们通常负责开发最先进的测量方法，最终提高包括医学研究人员在内的所有生物科学家的能力。MBTP受训者是一群非常受欢迎的研究生，他们在数学和物理科学方面有很强的实力，对复杂的生物系统有真正的兴趣。我们目前的学员GRE成绩平均为760分，满分为800分。培训计划的关键要素是核心课程，确保所有受训者在物理和生物原理方面有坚实的基础；在分子生物物理学的前沿进行强大的跨学科研究；正确进行科学研究的课程作业和非正式培训；与论文/指导委员会密切互动，该委员会在第二年成立，并在整个博士项目中与学员保持密切联系。威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校提供了大量的研讨会、海报会议和辅助课程，大大提高了学员的科学广度。在过去的两年中，我们已经大大改变了MBTP和密切相关的生物物理学研究生学位课程（BGDP）的行政结构和内容。一个单一的生物物理学指导委员会现在同时管理MBTP和BGDP。我们正在努力在威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校的校园里创建一个更加连贯的生物物理学学生社区。新的要求确保所有生物物理学学生在校园里的培训经历的统一性，包括MBTP学员（无论家庭部门）和BGDP学生。通过共同的，每周一次的生物物理研讨会，海报会议，生物物理之夜，所有生物物理专业的学生都有很多机会与教师培训师和彼此互动。通过利用现有的校园外展项目，MBTP培训师将加强正在进行的努力，以增加MBTP和BGDP中未被充分代表的少数民族学生的参与。为了加强问责制，任何接受新学员的培训师将被要求每年参加一次有意义的外展活动。在即将到来的资助期内，我们亦计划透过离职面谈及对取得博士学位至少五年的前受训者进行定期调查，改善MBTP成效的自我评估。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal requests funding for renewal of an NIH Training Program in Molecular Biophysics (the MBTP) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Molecular biophysics takes a quantitative, physical, non- phenomenological approach to biology that is firmly rooted in the principles of condensed-phase physics and Physical chemistry. Biophysicists are driven primarily by their curiosity about how biological systems work at the molecular level. They are often responsible for development of state-of-the-art measurements that eventually enhance the capabilities of all biological scientists, including medical researchers. The MBTP Trainees are a highly sought cohort of graduate students combining strength in mathematics and physical science with a genuine interest in complex biological systems. Our current Trainees have a mean GRE Quantitative score of 760 on a scale of 800. The key elements in the Training Program are core coursework that ensures that all Trainees have a firm grounding in physical and biological principles; strong, interdisciplinary research at the forefront of molecular biophysics; coursework and informal training in proper conduct of scientific research; and close interaction with a thesis/mentoring committee that is formed in the second year and maintains a strong connection with the Trainee throughout the Ph.D. program. The UW- Madison offers a tremendous range of seminars, poster sessions, and auxiliary coursework that greatly enhance the scientific breadth of our Trainees. In the past two years, we have substantially altered the administrative structure and the content of the MBTP and the closely related Biophysics Graduate Degree Program (BGDP). A single Biophysics Steering Committee now administers both the MBTP and the BGDP. We are working hard to create a more coherent community of biophysics students on the UW-Madison campus. New requirements ensure uniformity of the training experiences of all biophysics students on campus, both MBTP Trainees (regardless of home department) and BGDP students. Through a common, weekly Biophysics Seminar class, poster sessions, Biophysics Evenings, all biophysics students share many opportunities to interact with faculty Trainers and with each other. By leveraging existing connections with outreach programs already existing on campus, the MBTP Trainers will enhance ongoing efforts to increase participation of underrepresented minority students in both the MBTP and the BGDP. To enforce accountability, any Trainer who accepts a new Trainee will be required to participate in one meaningful outreach activity each year. In the coming grant period, we also plan to improve self-evaluation of the effectiveness of the MBTP via exit interviews and a periodic survey of former Trainees at least five years after their Ph.D.