Biotechnology Training Program - University of Virginia

Infobox_university
name =UVa Biotechnology Training Program
established =2000
director =Gordon Laurie (Cell Biology); Executive Committee: Zygmunt Derewenda (Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics), Erik Fernandez (Chemical Engineering), James Landers (Chemistry), Thomas Skalak (Biomedical Engineering); Board of Corporate Advisors: George Martin (Fibrogen), Robert McKown (James Madison University), David Patteson (Advion Biosciences), Tim Redden (University of Virginia), Jay Reuben (Becten Dickinson Diagnostics), Alan Simpson (PRA International)
postgrad = 8 -9 PhD students funded for 2 yrs each then go onto mentor grant support; Current total number of students: 18; Number of students graduated to date: 19; Prerequisite: enrolled in a UVa science PhD program, US citizen or green card; Student funding: tuition, stipend, health insurance
faculty = 45; Departments (not exclusive): Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, Biomedical Engineering, Cell Biology, Chemical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Medicine, Microbiology, Molecular Physiology & Biological Physics, Pathology, Pharmacology, Systems Engineering
website = [http://faculty.virginia.edu/biotech/index.html] ; University website: [http://www.virginia.edu/ Virginia.edu]
type =NIGMS Biotechnology Predoctoral Training [http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Training/InstPredoc/PredocDesc-Biotechnology.htm] ; NIGMS program director: Warren Jones; Number of NIGMS Biotechnology Predoctoral Training programs nationwide: 19 [http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Training/InstPredoc/PredocInst-Biotechnology.htm]
city =CharlottesvilleThe Biotechnology Training Program [http://faculty.virginia.edu/biotech/index.html] (BTP) at the University of Virginia (UVa) is an NIH sponsored PhD level research program founded in 2000. The BTP is open to all UVa PhD students in any science or engineering department at UVa . It is one of nineteen NIH BTP's nationwide and the only one in Virginia.

History

Beginning in 1989 and continuing through the 1990's, a group of medical school labs interested in the interaction of cells with extracellular matrix met monthly to share data as the Matrix Group. Several seminars per year from well-known experts were also organized. The group evolved into a critical mass of nineteen independently funded mentors from thirteen different basic science and clinical departments in the Schools of Medicine and Engineering. In January 1998 the Group sought student 'biotechnology' funding from the NIH. This NIH support mechanism was established by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences in 1988 after prompting from Congress. A revision of the proposal was funded in 2000. This gave birth to the UVa Biotechnology Training Program in a form that extended beyond Matrix Group themes to a wide variety of biological, engineering and technological topics. Since 2000, the BTP has trained or is currently training over forty students from home departments in Cell Biology, Chemistry, Microbiology, Physiology, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Systems Engineering. Among alumni, two are now Assistant Professors. Some are currently training as postdoctoral fellows. Others have taken permanent employment in government or industry.

Mission

The mission of the BTP is threefold. (i) First and foremost to transform undergraduates into high caliber scientists. (ii) To educate students in the different cultures of science. All students train for 1 - 3 months in an industrial setting within or outside of the United States. (iii) To promote synergy among the disciplines via data sharing, seminars and symposia. This is an opportune time for students to be brushing shoulders with fellows in engineering, chemistry or biology. This union of disciplines stimulates new ideas and perspectives. This is the foundation for novel basic science and biotechnological innovation.

Admissions

Applicants are primarily in the first year of their departmental PhD program. According to NIH guidelines, only US citizen or green card holders can be supported. Assuming this criterion is met, any PhD science student is eligible to apply [http://faculty.virginia.edu/biotech/index.html] , even if their mentor has not previously been associated with the BTP. The deadline is yearly in late April or early May. Admission is academically selective. To expose the BTP to minorities and the disadvantaged, the BTP formally interacts with programs at Norfolk State University and Virginia Union University, and is seeking collaborations with south-west Virginia.

Curriculum

BTP training is research directed. Research is time consuming. Extra courses [http://faculty.virginia.edu/biotech/index.html] beyond departmental PhD courses are minimized to an introductory chemical engineering course approachable by both non-engineers and engineers, and a course each in statistics and research ethics. The required cell or biological chemistry courses are usually completed as part of departmental requirements.

Current Research

BTP research themes are broad and overlapping. Many have a foundation or are directed towards cell or tissue biology. These themes are as follows. (i) Engineering cell and tissue biomatrices, cell signaling, mechanotransduction and kinetics. (ii) Biodetection assays, genomics/proteomics, protein structure, immune therapy. (iii) Biomaterials/bioprocessing, combinatorial chemistry, drug screening/purification/delivery together encompass broad areas of discovery research and drug development. (iv) Bacterial chemotaxis/infection/metabolism, biodefense. (iv) Gene regulation mechanisms, genetic disease/regenerative medicine, cell therapy. Needed is a new generation of young scientists who approach new scientific challenges with analytical minds and an extensive array of modern technologies

Faculty

Mentoring BTP students is a highly engaged, collaborative and well-funded faculty of forty-five Assistant, Associate and full Professors from a diversity of science departments.

Program Features

The BTP is a training program 'for the students by the students'. Trainees take direct responsibility for programmatic features including: editorship of the BTP newsletter, organization of BTP Minority Day, high school and Day of Caring outreach, BTP poster presentations at other institutions, organization of BTP seminars, social activities, new student dinner, and BTP Symposia.

External links

http://www.virginia.edu/http://faculty.virginia.edu/biotech/index.htmlhttp://www.nigms.nih.gov/Training/InstPredoc/http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Training/InstPredoc/PredocDesc-Biotechnology.htmhttp://www.nsu.edu/biotechnology/http://www.vuu.edu/academics/sciencefaculty.htmhttp://www.dayofcaring.info/http://www.jmu.edu/biology/biotechnology.shtml