# Molecular and Cellular Biophysics Training Grant

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 2024 · $479,849

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
The University of North Carolina (UNC) Molecular and Cellular Biophysics Program (MCBP) is a successful
interdisciplinary graduate training program with a mission to train a diverse cohort of graduate students to
conduct biomedical research, probing the molecular and cellular processes of life and disease using biophysical
approaches. The MCBP has three core objectives: 1. To attract a diverse cohort of talented graduate students
to apply the methods and concepts of the quantitative and mathematical sciences to problems in biology; 2. To
provide a flexible, equitable vehicle for training this diverse group of graduate students who share with our
biophysics faculty a commitment to developing molecular-level descriptions of complex biological systems and
processes; 3. To foster inclusive interactions and enhance the training and research environment within this
diverse group of students and faculty to best enable and potentiate career trajectories in the biological sciences.
This proposal requests 10 training slots to support 5 students in their second year and 5 students in their third
year of graduate school. The MCBP fulfills a specific need at UNC, uniting graduate students and faculty across
the campus under a comprehensive molecular and cellular biophysics training program. The program selects
students from a variety of UNC graduate school-admitting portals including biological sciences, chemistry, and
physics, that align with the academic diversity of our 36 faculty, who are drawn from 9 departments from across
the School of Medicine, the School of Pharmacy, and the College of Arts and Sciences. Our students and faculty
share an interest in characterizing and modeling the biophysical behavior of macromolecules and cellular
systems. By promoting interactions across biology, physics, and chemistry, MCBP students gain proficiency in
cross-disciplinary science and communication. Students complete rigorous coursework in small classes rooted
in the theory, and application of biophysics. Students become trained in the responsible conduct of research and
rigor and reproducibility. Specific training includes core classes in the principles of the molecular and
thermodynamic behavior of macromolecules, elective courses in methods to investigate macromolecular
structure and function and behavior, both in vitro and in cells, and a seminar class in biophysics where students
are trained in scientific presentations, communication and critique, attend seminars, and meet with visiting
speakers. The MCBP further promotes student development through the Biophysics Colloquium, by hosting a
biennial North Carolina Biophysics Symposium, a class in written communication, career panels with program
graduates, and via student advising. Over its 28-year history, MCBP graduates have used the skills they
developed in the program to become leaders in research and education across academics and industry.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10838681
- **Project number:** 1T32GM148376-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **Principal Investigator:** BRIAN A KUHLMAN
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $479,849
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-07-01 → 2029-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10838681

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10838681, Molecular and Cellular Biophysics Training Grant (1T32GM148376-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10838681. Licensed CC0.

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