Project Summary The core objective of the pre-doctoral Developmental Biology Training Program (DBTP) is to produce highly qualified, independent research scientists who are trained to take a broad interdisciplinary approach to developmental biology problems. This mission is consistent with the philosophy of the University of Chicago’s Biological Sciences Division (BSD), which seeks to avoid artificial boundaries between disciplines and encourage broad based interaction and collaboration. To produce researchers trained in a variety of areas relevant to human health and disease, the DBTP builds on both long-standing and burgeoning University of Chicago strengths in developmental biology. We have well-established strengths in the genetics of model organisms, the molecular and cellular basis of development, computation/modeling/systems level approaches in developing systems, and evolutionary developmental biology. During the ongoing third funding period, strategic new hires have enabled the DBTP to expand in areas of developmental neurobiology, stem cell biology, and biophysical approaches to development, and through affiliation with the MBL to exploit a wider array of non-traditional models. The DBTP trainers are a vibrant group of thirty-four well-funded researchers, including experienced senior faculty and talented junior faculty, based in eight BSD departments, the adjacent Chemistry department, the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, and at our affiliate organization the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL). DBTP trainees are carefully selected from six interdisciplinary graduate training programs: training grant support begins as they enter their second year of studies and generally extends for two years, subject to competitive renewal. We propose to continue to support four trainees in year 1, and then increase that number to five trainees in years 2-5 to take advantage of the expanding pool of students with interests in our new joint graduate program with the MBL. This number of trainees will allow us to be highly selective, while maintaining a critical cohort size. Trainees benefit from a strategically designed curriculum that includes access to six dedicated formal courses, a unique new lab-based Embryology course at the MBL, a requirement for quantitative/computational training, and an extensive range of supplemental training-related activities. Among these activities are the DBTP sponsored developmental biology seminar series and data club (associated with our required communications course), an annual retreat, and student-run DBTP-sponsored symposia. Our training plan ensures students develop broad transferable skills—including communication, networking, teaching, computation, and rigorous critical analysis—key to their success in the biomedical research workforce. In summary, the DBTP integrates a range of training approaches to prepare future leaders in developmental biology research and education. The success of the DBTP is de...