ABSTRACT This application requests support for nine trainees for a Predoctoral Training Program in Biotechnology, the University of Iowa Biotech-TP. These nine lines will be matched by six more lines by the University of Iowa through its Center for Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing (CBB). Combined, the NIH and CBB fellowships will provide training in the applications of biological and physical sciences to biotechnology-related research. The CBB and Iowa Biotech-TP create a vibrant community of trainees and dedicated faculty trainers from four University of Iowa colleges and ten academic departments. The Iowa Biotech-TP is administered by a Leadership Team and an Executive Committee. An External Advisory Board of biotechnology industry leaders provides independent input to assure relevance to the needs of the biotechnology industry and research. Our Iowa Biotech-TP will train future leaders in biotechnology-related research and will equip them to succeed in industrial, academic and governmental research enterprises. Our cohort of trainees will come from different scientific and cultural backgrounds and will be trained in a way that fosters effective communication with one another, which is critical to our ability to make significant advances in biotechnology in the future. The Iowa Biotech-TP is designed to provide a deep and diverse education to trainees, including academic training covering qualitative and quantitative aspects of biotechnology, hands-on introduction to industrial methods, and preparation for professional life in biotechnology. Trainees are required to: a) complete an industrial internship lasting three months; b) must complete at least three (3) semester hours of coursework in four of five core areas of biotechnology (Biocatalytic Sciences, Bioprocessing, Molecular and Synthetic Biology, Data Handling and Computational Analysis, and Professional Development); c) take courses in Responsible Conduct of Research and Mastering Reproducible Science; d) participate in the “Perspectives in Biotechnology” class and activities every semester including presentations at the annual CBB and the annual Iowa Biotech-TP Spring Symposium; e) participate in TP's seminars; and f) participate in various trainee- cohort career building and networking activities. Our fifteen proposed trainees (9 NIH and 6 CBB fellows) will be selected annually toward the end of their first year in graduate school, and support for trainees may be renewed for up to two years, however all trainees continue in the program until graduation. The recruiting pool is based not on departmental affiliation but on interest in biotechnology and graduate training. In addition to six fellowships, the CBB will provide administrative support, as well as financial support to offset the effort of the Iowa Biotech-TP leadership team. The CBB will also provide training in industrial settings and will expose trainees to commercial aspects of biotechnology. These CBB matching funds will great...