# Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology

> **NIH NIH T32** · WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV · 2020 · $289,234

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology (TPCB)
The Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology (TPCB) is an innovative graduate program that
provides students with comprehensive training at the interface of chemistry, biology, and medicine. TPCB is
unique in that it is offered jointly by three premier research institutions with adjacent campuses in the heart of
New York City: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, The Rockefeller University, and Weill Cornell
Medical College. This stand-alone, direct admission graduate program was established in 2001 as one of the
first in the nation to focus specifically on training the next generation of chemical biology researchers.
Over the last 19 years, TPCB has established itself as a leading graduate program in chemical biology, with 70
PhD graduates and 43 current students (26 training grant-eligible, TGE). Students come from both chemical
and biological backgrounds and the program combines quantitative chemical training with deep insights into
forefront problems in biomedical research. Students also come from a wide range of scientific and cultural
backgrounds and this diversity is celebrated. The program welcomes students from underrepresented minority
groups, those with disabilities, and those from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds (currently totaling
35% of TGE) and works with each student individually to ensure they have the resources necessary to thrive.
The curriculum includes two chemical biology courses created specifically for TPCB students, additional core
and elective courses, a seminar course, lab rotations, student Research-in-Progress seminars, annual student-
organized Tri-I Chemical Biology Symposium and TPCB Student Career Development Retreat, and the
Sanders Tri-I Chemical Biology Seminar Series. Students receive extensive career development training and
formal ongoing instruction in Responsible Conduct of Research and Rigor & Reproducibility. Students have
opportunities to conduct PhD thesis research with 54 dedicated faculty mentors working across the spectrum of
chemical biology with >$1M average annual funding. Students move seamlessly between the three institutions
and have access to the state-of-the-art research facilities and rich scientific environment on all three
campuses, providing diverse opportunities to pursue fundamental and translational research and to engage in
multidisciplinary collaborations. Importantly, TPCB students are deeply involved in the organization and design
of the training experience, and the program has evolved continually in response to student feedback.
As a result, TPCB students have been exceptionally productive, publishing over 400 scientific papers (average
5.2 papers/graduate), graduating in an average of 5.5 years. TPCB alumni have continued onto a wide range
of successful careers across the tenure track (17%), pharma (12%), biotech (29%), other labs (10%), and
research-related careers (31%). TPCB receives ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9936611
- **Project number:** 1T32GM136640-01
- **Recipient organization:** WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV
- **Principal Investigator:** DEREK S TAN
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $289,234
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-07-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9936611

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9936611, Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology (1T32GM136640-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9936611. Licensed CC0.

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