Dual-mentored training for collaborative molecular biophysics

University Of Chicago, Chicago IL

Investigators

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Advances in molecular biophysics often occur when tools, techniques, and ideas from the physical sciences are joined to biological research questions to create new insights and opportunities, revealing microscopic design principles within biology. BPHYS is an independent graduate training program at The University of Chicago founded on a training model in which an interdisciplinary bridge between the physical sciences and the life sciences is built within each student. The hallmark of the program is that our students are co-mentored by two faculty with complementary research interests and receive a Ph.D. degree from both the Physical Sciences Division and Biological Sciences Division. By making our students full members of both mentors' laboratory groups at the outset, trainees learn to identify and bridge intellectual gaps between disciplines. This allows students to overcome cultural barriers between fields and identify opportunities for innovation. Our students greatly value this experience and intellectual independence, and we attract daring, creative, and driven students. BPHYS trainees receive training in both biological and physical sciences through a combination of lab-based courses, didactic courses alongside students in traditional disciplinary programs, and program activities. Intense interdisciplinary didactic and practical training is implemented by the trainee through research on an innovative, student-designed, dual-mentored thesis project, which is investigated using both physical and biological approaches. The trainee is a full member of both mentors' laboratories and becomes adept at communicating across disciplinary boundaries. Program mentors actively recruit (and compete for) our BPHYS students because they forge new and lasting collaborations between groups. Due to this demand, we have increased the number of students who matriculate into the Program to ~10 per year with no drop in quality with further growth supported by our applicant pool and trainer funding profiles. Accordingly, this application requests 10 trainee slots to support 5 students in the Program in their first and second years.