Graduate Program in Biophysical Sciences at the University of Chicago - Renewal 0

描述（申请人提供）：2007年，芝加哥大学启动了生物物理科学博士研究生项目（BPHYS），为物理科学和生物科学之间的接口提供培训，促进跨学科研究。芝加哥大学获得资助，在HHMI和NIBIB的双重指导下开发一种新型的研究生项目，随后在2009年获得NIBIB资助的8个名额。我们的培训师来自物理和生物科学部（包括临床教师）和新的分子工程研究所。该计划直接招收和培养具有物理科学背景的学生干部，作为新一代年轻科学家的核心，他们能够使用定量物理方法解决局部生物学问题。该计划得到了来自大学各级的大量智力和财政支持。具体目标和成就包括：-建立一个全国认可的研究生项目，拥有一批优秀的学生，提高芝加哥大学跨学科研究的质量。-引入和测试一个创新的培训项目，这个项目本质上是跨学科和协作的。-通过为想要探索物理科学和生物科学之间的接口的学生提供一个项目来填补招生空白。-培养科学家成为跨学科探索发展的未来领域的领导者。-转变科学教学和学科定义的方式，首先是在地方，然后是全国的科学培训模式。-履行美国国立卫生研究院“加强生物医学研究队伍”的使命。BPHYS项目建立了一个成功的循环，使其成为芝加哥大学杰出的研究生项目。随着2013年的新生，该项目将有26名学生和5名毕业生。该计划是为生物学背景有限的物理科学学生设计的。在入学前一个月，学员参加为期四周的实验课程。在这一年中，学生们在学习物理和生物科学的研究生课程的同时继续实验课。每个学生都由来自物理和生物科学的教师共同指导。特定项目和学生组织的活动一直持续到毕业。几乎所有的申请人都表示，他们申请芝加哥大学只是因为BPHYS项目，这表明了该项目的必要性和影响。我们吸引了优秀的学生，许多人获得了声望很高的奖学金。目前的8个培训资助名额每年只支持4名学生。因此，即使非常合适的申请人在我们的申请人池中，招生委员会也会限制录取的数量。因此，我们要求为下一个拨款周期提供10个名额。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In 2007, Chicago started the PhD granting Graduate Program in Biophysical Sciences (BPHYS) to provide training at the interface between the physical and biological sciences and promote interdisciplinary research. UChicago was awarded funding to develop a novel type of graduate program with dual mentorship by HHMI and the NIBIB, followed by an 8 slot NIBIB funded grant in 2009. Our trainers are drawn from the Physical and Biological Sciences Divisions (including clinical faculty) and the new Institute for Molecular Engineering. The Program directly admits and trains a select cadre of students with physical science backgrounds to act as the nucleus for a new generation of young scientists skilled in addressing topical biological problems using quantitative physical approaches. The Program has received considerable intellectual and financial support from all levels of the University. Specific Goals and Accomplishments include: -Establish a nationally recognized graduate program with a pool of superb students that enhances the quality of interdisciplinary research conducted at UChicago. -Introduce and test an innovative training program that is inherently interdisciplinary and collaborative. -Fill a student-recruiting gap by providing a program for students that want to explore the interfaces between the physical and biological sciences. -Train the scientists to be leaders of the future fields that evolve through interdisciplinary exploration. -Transform the way science is taught and disciplines are defined, first locally, and then as a national model of science training. -Fulfill the NIH's mandate of "Strengthening the Biomedical Research Workforce". The BPHYS program has established a cycle of success that has made it a prominent graduate program at UChicago. With the 2013 entering class, the Program will have 26 students and graduated 5 students. The program is designed to accommodate physical science students with limited backgrounds in biology. In the month prior to matriculation, trainees participate in a 4 week lab course. During the year, students continue with the lab course while taking regular graduate courses in physical and biological sciences. Each student is co-mentored, typically by faculty members from both the physical and biological sciences. Program specific and often student-run activities continue until graduation. Nearly all applicants state that they applied to UChicago only because of the BPHYS program, demonstrating the need and impact of the program. We have attracted outstanding students and many go on to garner prestigious fellowships. The current allotment of 8 training grant slots supports only 4 students per year. As a result, the admissions committee limits the number of offers even though highly suitable applicants are in our applicant pool. Consequently, we request 10 slots for the next grant cycle.