TRAINING PROGRAM IN BIOMEDICAL RESERACH

Project Summary The goal of this program is to train graduate students for the PhD degree in the broad and interdisciplinary areas of Cell Biology, Molecular Biology and Genetics. This program includes 52 faculty from 9 basic science departments, and is the only graduate training program at Einstein with this broad and interdisciplinary research emphasis. This renewal application is to continue the program with support for 19 trainees (~6-8 appointed per year). Over the past 10 years, the program has graduated 61 PhD students including 23 under- represented minority students. More than 95% of our graduates have continued in science-related careers. The overall objectives of the program are for students to perform significant basic science research projects, to acquire rigorous scientific background and experimental training, and to develop into independent scientists that make long-term contributions. The program is uniquely suited to train students in the use of a wide variety of cell biology, molecular biology, biochemical and genetic methods to address fundamental basic science questions. It is also ideally positioned to promote interdisciplinary research and quantitative methodologies. Training faculty are selected based on their research excellence in the broad areas of Cell Biology, Molecular Biology and Genetics, and their commitment to mentoring graduate students and to providing an excellent training environment. All but the most junior faculty members have substantial mentoring experience. A number of mechanisms are in place to assist junior faculty in mentoring students and to provide additional oversight for students in their labs. Trainees enter the Einstein Graduate School through a single portal. They complete 2-3 research rotations in the first year and undertake rigorous coursework including several foundation courses taught by our 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 steering committee after the first and second year of graduate training, and interviewed by the Program Director prior to appointment for 1-3 years of funding. Training program activities are used to build a coherent training effort in which students participate until completion of the PhD. Trainees present yearly in a very active work-in-progress series and host an annual seminar speaker. A yearly program retreat includes talks by more senior students, workshops, and ethics discussions. Alumni from our training program also present in the retreat to provide career perspectives. At these events, our trainers and steering committee, together with the Director, provide input on research directions, presentation skills, and publication strategies. Together, these features make the program a vibrant and highly interactive community of faculty trainers and graduate students involved in key basic science questions that are relevant to human health. Students graduate with the scientific background, research skills, and critical thought process necessary for an independent career in science.