# Comparative Virology Research Training Program

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA LINCOLN · 2020 · $172,966

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The proposed Comparative Virology Research Training Program (T32 Program) will leverage the expertise of
19 faculty members from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) and the University of Nebraska Medical
Center to provide comparative research training for pre-doctoral students in human, animal, and plant viruses.
With this comparative orientation, the program is ideally positioned to develop biomedical researchers who are
equipped to lend expertise regarding infectious viral diseases and to apply newly acquired knowledge and
skills to basic and applied biomedical research, animal and plant health, biodefense readiness, and emerging
diseases. The long-range goal of this T32 Program is to develop a cadre of junior scientists and researchers
who are well grounded in a fundamental knowledge of viral pathogenesis and laboratory research experience.
The specific aims of the program are to: 1) Provide a stellar training environment where pre-doctoral trainees
receive an outstanding education in viral infections and disease that prepares them to succeed in a range of
anticipated careers, from academia to government to the private sector; 2) Support ongoing training efforts in
human, animal, and plant viruses and bioinformatics, coalescing around comparative research experiences in
different viral-host systems; and 3) Foster communication and collaboration among trainees and faculty
through core courses and program activities designed to exploit the intimate training and research environment
provided at the Nebraska Center for Virology and the strong training record of faculty mentors. Students who
have 1) been accepted into the UNL School of Biological Sciences PhD program based on excellent
undergraduate academic records and GRE scores and 2) expressed interest in the T32 Program will be
targeted as potential trainees. These potential trainees will be supported during Years 1-2 of their graduate
program with institutional funds before applying to the T32 Program at the end of Year 2. Students will be
selected as T32 trainees based on their mentor's recommendation, their academic/research performance in
the first two years, and their potential to be successful researchers before being admitted into the T32 Program
at the onset of Year 3. NIH funds support Years 3-4 of a trainee's five-year program, with mentor laboratory
funding covering Year 5. In addition to specialized coursework and research experiences in mentor
laboratories, trainees will receive training in bioinformatics; instruction in research ethics and grantsmanship;
guidance regarding career paths beyond academia, including access to industry and international internships;
teaching experience; and participate in an annual symposium. The expected outcome is that this program will
support a projected 12 trainees who will graduate with a strong background in research design, methodology,
and analysis and thus be well equipped to pursue a range of career opportuniti...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9915846
- **Project number:** 5T32AI125207-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA LINCOLN
- **Principal Investigator:** ERIC A WEAVER
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $172,966
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-07-01 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9915846

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9915846, Comparative Virology Research Training Program (5T32AI125207-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9915846. Licensed CC0.

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