T32GM142605

Cell and Molecular Biology Training Program - Project Summary/Abstract

Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB) is a unique, interdisciplinary Ph.D. training program at Duke University. It offers students the opportunity to explore the diverse landscape of biomedical research before committing to a specific area of research focus. The program's curriculum is designed to promote exploration and includes a modular format in the first semester and a focus on experimental design and modern cell and molecular techniques in the spring.

During the first year, students are required to complete three research rotations, which serve as the basis for choosing a mentor for their thesis research. In the second year, students must take a grant-writing course in the fall and orally present and defend a written thesis proposal by the end of the spring semester. Additional in-depth training is obtained through elective courses and thesis research.

The program places a strong emphasis on responsible conduct of research, rigor, and reproducibility. Students receive extensive instruction in these areas, which is integrated throughout their graduate training. Additionally, yearly lab-safety training is mandatory. Student progress and milestones are tracked and assessed using an app-based tracking tool developed at Duke.

To enrich the training experience and promote teamwork, first-year students are mentored by second-year students. Students also organize annual recruitment activities and collaboratively plan a yearly symposium that brings experts to campus and celebrates research accomplishments of CMB students.

The CMB program is led by a director and a director of graduate studies who embody the breadth of scientific expertise within the program. They are at different career stages and have complementary strengths. Additional program oversight is provided by an executive committee that broadly represents the constituent faculty. All 110 CMB training faculty members are required to undergo mentoring and diversity-equity-inclusion training before students can affiliate with their respective labs.

The program receives 200-300 student applications yearly, and GRE scores are not required. Applicants are reviewed using a standardized, holistic rubric. Currently, there are 98 graduate students at Duke who matriculated through CMB, with 70 of them being training-grant eligible. This group size fosters a strong social and intellectual network that enhances scientific exchange and encourages the use of multidisciplinary approaches.

To maintain this robust program size, the grant requests sixteen training slots, with selected students to be supported by the grant in years two and three. The average time-to-degree for CMB students is 6.0 years, and extensive professional development resources are available to emphasize exposure to and preparation for diverse scientific careers.

The overarching goal of the CMB program is to provide all students with a safe, inclusive, equitable, and rigorous training experience. The program aims to equip students with the technical, operational, and professional skills needed to become independent and valuable members of the biomedical workforce.

Duke University

NOT APPLICABLE

93.859 - Biomedical Research and Research Training

National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) [HHS - NIH]

Durham, North Carolina 277051104 United States

Single Zip Code

National Institute of General Medical Sciences Predoctoral Basic Biomedical Sciences Research Training Program (T32) (PAR-23-228)

Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 06/30/26 to 06/30/31 and the total obligations have increased 448% from $624,447 to $3,422,521.