# Molecular Biophysics Training Program

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2024 · $659,231

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The University of Washington (UW) Molecular Biophysics Training Program (MBTP) is designed to
train predoctoral students to apply state-of-art physical and quantitative approaches to the
investigation of biomedically relevant systems at molecular and cellular levels. As manifested by the
COVID-19 pandemic crisis, basic and translational research in almost all biomedical areas
necessitate the adoption and implementation of rigorous and quantitative biophysical methods to
dissect the fundamental mechanisms of molecular and cellular biology and to develop effective
therapeutics against a variety of existing and emerging human diseases. This requirement calls for a
highly trained workforce proficient in research methods at the intersection of physics, chemistry,
engineering, and biology. The overarching objective of MBTP is to meet these needs by enhancing
the research experience and training of holistically selected UW predoctoral students interested in
molecular biophysics and preparing them for a productive career in health-related research in
academia, government, and the private sector. Each year MBTP trainees are chosen through a
rigorous selection process that identifies promising graduate students from a large pool of talented
and diverse applicants admitted to UW through five interdisciplinary programs and nine departmental
programs. During their graduate career, 10-12 MBTP trainees are provided with at least two years of
mandatory structured activities to expose them to a wide range of biophysical methods, techniques,
and research topics that go beyond their home graduate program. These training activities include,
but are not limited to, a structural biology and biophysics graduate level course, a bi-weekly student
research presentation series, a peer-organized student journal club and discussion group, an annual
retreat trainee-centered retreat, and interactions with a larger local biophysics community. These
activities are further supplemented with lectures and courses required or supported by MBTP and
related UW departments. MBTP plays a special role at UW by actively nucleating a cross-
departmental biophysics community. It fosters close interactions among trainees and their peer pre-
doctoral students, who share common interests in molecular biophysics, but are otherwise separated
by departments and graduate programs. By taking advantage of a growing body of UW faculty with
biophysics background, MBTP creates a unique platform, where trainees learn about modern
biophysical techniques, sharpen their communication skills, build and extend their professional
network, establish and enhance their science identity and self-efficacy. The training program has a
strong record of success and impact as evidenced by the diverse research-related career choices
trainees make after they leave graduate school.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10846062
- **Project number:** 1T32GM153507-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Justin M Kollman
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $659,231
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-07-01 → 2029-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10846062

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10846062, Molecular Biophysics Training Program (1T32GM153507-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10846062. Licensed CC0.

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