NIH Graduate Research Training Program in Biotechnology
GENERAL INFORMATION AND ADMISSION
The Biotechnology Training Program for Ph.D. graduate students was established by an NIH Training Grant awarded to the Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering at Rice University in 1991. The goal of the training program is to train graduate students from various disciplines in the broad aspects of biotechnology and in the industrial application of these techniques. The program provides stipends and research support for graduate students interested in a research career in biotechnology. It allows students access to the tools of biotechnology while specializing in a particular research area. Students receive training in broad areas of biotechnology that relate to commercial application of these techniques. A core of interdisciplinary courses is offered and includes a three-to-six month internship in an industrial setting.
In order to be considered for admission to the NIH Biotechnology Research Training Program you must be a 2nd or 3rd year graduate student in the Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, the Department of Bioengineering, the Department of Chemistry, or the Department of Chemical Engineering. Admission decisions will be based on a combination of your undergraduate record, GRE scores, aptitude and interest in a research career in biotechnology. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Minority students are encouraged to apply.
The Rice University Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering's NIH Biotechnology Research Training Program is supported by a five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health and provides traineeships for 9 Ph.D. students. The award consists of an annual stipend for up to two years.
Funds for trainee-related expenses are available for NIH trainees. These funds fall into two categories, supplies and travel. Students can utilize the supply funds for research-related expenditures that are relevant to their specific project. In some cases this expense may be a particularly important compound, or a set of enzymes for an experimental protocol that may be outside of the usual laboratory routine. These funds provide the trainees with a level of independence and the ability to contribute to their laboratory. The travel funds are used to defray the costs of travel incurred by the trainee either while attending a scientific meeting or in traveling to an out-of-town laboratory to pursue aspects of the research which require resources not available locally. The availability of these funds to our trainees provides emphasis to the honor that we indicate a training stipend conveys.
MAJOR RESEARCH EFFORTS
NIH Biotechnology Graduate Students will be conducting research in the following diverse areas:
EDUCATION EFFORTS
The NIH biotechnology graduate students are required to attend IBB's NIH Biotechnology Lecture Series each semester; however, this lecture series is also open to the public. The Spring 2011 Seminars will be held in the BRC 282, 3-4pm (Feb 23 - Allison Lami, Rebellion Photonics, March 30 - Jason Moore, PLx Pharma, Inc., and April 20 - Bill Ramey, Novak Druce + Quigg, LLP). The flyer for the next lecture can be found here. More information regarding NIH biotech field trips, internships, biotech retreats, and current participants can be found here. Click here for details on the academic requirements for the graduate students on the NIH Biotechnology Training Grant. Examples of topics covered in BIOE 576-577 - Foundations in Biotechnology, can be found here.
COMMITTEES
The NIH Biotechnology Research Training External Advisory Committee consists of: David Anderson, CEO and Chairman of the Board of MithraGen, Chairman of the Board of Nanospectra Biosciences, Inc., and Chairman of PLx Pharma, Inc.; Jacqueline R. Northcut, President and CEO of BioHouston, Inc.; Jason Moore, Vice President of PLx Pharma, Inc.; Dr. Sunil Chada, Associate Vice President of Introgen Therapeutics, Inc.; and Dr. Carol Farhangfar, Director, Research Planning & Development, Division of Cancer Medicine, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
The NIH Biotechnology Research Training Steering Committee consists of: George N. Bennett, Professor of Biochemistry and Cell Biology; Janet Braam, Professor of Biochemistry and Cell Biology and Chair; Seiichi P.T. Matsuda, E. Dell Butcher Professor of Chemistry and Chair, Professor of Biochemistry and Cell Biology; Antonios G. Mikos, John W. Cox Professor of Bioengineering and Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; Rebecca Richards-Kortum, Stanley C. Moore Professor of Bioengineering and Director of Rice 360, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor; Ka-Yiu San, E.D. Butcher Professor of Bioengineering and Professor Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; Yousif Shamoo, Wiess Career Development Chair, Associate Professor in Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Director, Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering; and Jennifer L. West, Isabel C. Cameron Professor and Chair of Bioengineering, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor.