# Biotechnology Predoctoral Training Program

> **NIH NIH T32** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $549,359

## Abstract

This proposal requests funding for the Biotechnology Predoctoral Training Program at Northwestern University,
which supports core activities for training a select group of students, nucleates the biotechnology community,
and provides many training opportunities. This interdisciplinary and interdepartmental Program draws students
from 6 participating graduate programs: the Departments of Chemical & Biological Engineering (ChBE),
Biomedical Engineering (BME), Material Sciences & Engineering (MSE), and Chemistry (Chem), the
Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences (IBiS) graduate program, and the Driskill Graduate Program in Life
Sciences (DGP). Research opportunities, chosen from rotations in bioengineering and life sciences
laboratories, are complemented by a core interdisciplinary curriculum. Instruction in responsible conduct of
research is provided, and discussion and training in reproducibility and rigor (R&R) is woven throughout the
Program. Three- to six-month industrial internships expose Trainees to modern biotechnology. A BTP-only
retreat and other gatherings promote scientific interactions across the Biotechnology community at
Northwestern. At monthly biotechnology Research in Progress meetings, Trainees and faculty discuss their
research results and challenges, develop communication skills, interact with other Trainees, and discuss
personal experience with R&R challenges and strategies. Trainees select topics and suggest speakers for a
Biotechnology Seminar Series that brings industrial and academic scientists to campus for discussions with
Trainees. Trainees organize a Biotechnology Practicum and co-host a Biotechnology Nexus event. The
Practicum provides both pedagogical and experiential, hands-on training in current and emerging
biotechnologies. Biotechnology Nexus introduces Trainees and the broader biotechnology community to
numerous representatives from industry, who answer questions and discuss their career paths and strategies
for navigating opportunities and challenges in industry. Professional development also includes crafting and
discussing an Individual Development Plan. Trainees are recruited by the Program through graduate program
orientations, email, brochures, presentations, and web pages. Extensive efforts are made to recruit and
support students from underrepresented groups and/or with disabilities. Trainees are selected from all 6
graduate programs using a rubric and process aligned with holistic evaluation of applicants, explicitly
prioritizing cohort diversity. Mentoring excellence is supported by formal training and multi-level evaluation
aligned to program evaluation. Northwestern provides significant resources to enhance the Program and
increase the number of students benefitted. The Graduate School provides additional training slots and tuition
supplements; and the McCormick School of Engineering, the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, the
ChBE and Molecular Biosciences Departments, and the Feinberg School of ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10846239
- **Project number:** 1T32GM153505-01
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Joshua Nathaniel Leonard
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $549,359
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-07-01 → 2029-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10846239

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10846239, Biotechnology Predoctoral Training Program (1T32GM153505-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10846239. Licensed CC0.

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