# Training in Virology

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2022 · $255,100

## Abstract

This revised proposal requests support for the long-standing pre- and postdoctoral
Training in Virology T32 at the University of Pennsylvania. Over the past 25 years of
support hundreds of PhD and postdoctoral trainees have been mentored in viral
research by our faculty. This training program includes 17 laboratories directed by well-
established and well-funded investigators at the University of Pennsylvania, Wistar
Institute, and CHOP selected from over 30 NIH-funded laboratories studying viruses on
the contiguous campus that houses these institutions. New trainers strengthen an
already outstanding cadre of mentors and attest to the vibrant nature of the program.
The primary goal of the Virology Program is to identify, mentor and develop the careers
of future leaders dedicated to biomedical research in the field of virology. Toward this
end, we crafted a well-organized training program that includes outstanding and
committed mentors, an exceptional pool of candidates, outstanding institutional support
and facilities, and a well described set of metrics to gauge success. Training activities
include formal coursework in virology and immunology, an invited scientist speaker
series, a student and postdoc research in progress seminar, individualized development
plans for all trainees and a career development/Alumni day. A UPenn Virology LinkedIn
group is used to track and network with former trainees. Incoming PhD students have
workshops on fellowship preparation. In response to the review, a new Grant Proposal
Success peer-to-peer grant review program was developed for postdocs and a new
mentoring plan is in place for postdocs. A new podcast/video initiative was initiated by
the trainees. Penn provides direct and tangible institutional commitment to training by
supporting predoctoral trainees for their first 21 months of graduate school and funding
the Biomedical Postdoctoral Programs office. Over the past 15-year period, this Virology
T32 directly supported 61 trainees who worked in the labs of 27 different trainers
including 39 predoctoral trainees (21 men, 18 women,13% URM) and 22 postdoctoral
fellows (12 women, 10 men, 23% URM). 95% of the PhD students completed their
degree and 90% of pre and postdoc trainees who have completed training remain in
research related careers. To maintain this established virology training program, we
propose continuing support of 3 predoctoral and 2 postdoctoral trainees.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10434796
- **Project number:** 5T32AI007324-29
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Paul Bates
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $255,100
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1989-07-01 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10434796

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10434796, Training in Virology (5T32AI007324-29). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10434796. Licensed CC0.

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