# Pre-doctoral Training in Fundamental Approaches to Biochemistry and Cell and Molecular Biology

> **NIH NIH T32** · MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY · 2024 · $1,648,078

## Abstract

This proposal is for support of the pre-doctoral program in Cellular, Biochemical and Molecular Science at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Our mission is to train the next generation of
biological/biomedical scientists, many of whom will be innovators and leaders in research, education, and
other fields. This proposal builds on an outstanding training record developed over a 46-year partnership with
NIGMS. Our aims are to: educate students to understand the fundamental and underlying principles of
molecular, biochemical, and cellular biology, train students to be critical and creative thinkers, prepare
students to be ethical decision makers, teach and provide practice in written and oral communication, provide
experience with teaching and mentoring younger students, mentor students to become effective and rigorous
researchers, guide students through completion and publication of research projects, advise students as they
determine the best-fit careers for their interests and skills, provide an inclusive learning and research
environment, and broaden participation of individuals with diverse backgrounds in biomedical research
careers. We recruit and train talented students from majority, underrepresented minority, disabled, and
disadvantaged populations. Trainees admitted to our program have outstanding academic records and strong
motivation and aptitude to pursue research. A key feature of our program is an intensive, focused curriculum
required of all first-year students. Students work together in lecture and discussion-style courses taught by
dedicated faculty to master a fundamental set of approaches that underpin molecular biological science. The
training program exposes students to the research interests of all faculty members in the Biology Department
prior to a sequence of rotations that, in combination with first-semester courses, support an informed choice
of a thesis advisor and topic. Students gain experience in scientific communication and in teaching and
mentoring junior students. Responsible conduct of research is taught in both classroom and laboratory
settings, including an intense mini-course for 2nd year students. Students have many opportunities to learn
about career paths open to them following doctoral training. Students’ progress through the program is
monitored in regular thesis committee meetings with faculty members, with oversight by the graduate
committee. We seek to build and maintain a welcoming and supportive community in which all students are
valued and included. This training grant would constitute a critical source of support for ~50% of training-grant
eligible graduate students in our program during their first two years. Our students perform research of
outstanding quality, and most trainees go on to careers in biomedical research. Many of our former trainees
are now leaders in their chosen fields and bring to their positions the knowledge, rigor, thoughtful
perspectives, and values of equity a...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10894622
- **Project number:** 5T32GM136540-04
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
- **Principal Investigator:** Mary Gehring
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $1,648,078
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-07-01 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10894622

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10894622, Pre-doctoral Training in Fundamental Approaches to Biochemistry and Cell and Molecular Biology (5T32GM136540-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10894622. Licensed CC0.

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