# Plant Biotechnology for Health and Sustainability

> **NIH NIH T32** · MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $289,234

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Plants convert sunlight into chemical energy, synthesizing hundreds of thousands of organic
compounds from carbon dioxide and minerals, and sustaining life on earth. Plants shape our
environment and even produce the atmospheric oxygen we breathe, making possible life as we
know it. Thus, plants sustain humans by providing essential nutrients, medicines, shelter and
energy. From the beginning of human culture, we have harvested and utilized plants to address
global issues such as the sustainable production of foods, pharmaceuticals and fuels. Human
benefits from plants have progressed from foraging to agriculture and more recently derive from
biotechnology and synthetic biology. While harnessing the metabolic potential of plants in a
timely fashion supports sustainable use of plant resources and protects biodiversity, achieving
this goal requires a sustained effort by plant biologists and biotechnologists. Plant biotechnology
has the potential to meet many of the challenges currently threatening human well‐being, but
maintaining or improving the health of a growing world population against a backdrop of a
changing environment will require that plant scientists receive innovative and cross‐disciplinary
training. The Plant Biotechnology for Health and Sustainability (PBHS) graduate training program
fosters the education, training, and professional development of the next generation of
interdisciplinary scientists who will assume leadership positions in biotechnology‐related careers
including academia, industry, government, and entrepreneurship. A set of core competencies are
emphasized, including understanding a broad set of content areas, developing critical thinking
and teaching communication skills essential for effective collaboration across discipline. A
training emphasis will continue to be placed on building specific skill sets designed to promote
personal and professional development and provide a basis for evaluation of trainee
performance.
Bachelor's and master's degree level trainees enter the PBHS program at the start of their third
semester of predoctoral training. During the second year of predoctoral work, trainees take
courses that introduce concepts in plant biotechnology, collaborative and quantitative research
and that describe paths for translation of basic research into commercial products. The program
will provide stipends to six predoctoral students for two years each; these NRSA funding
students will be joined by four Michigan State University Graduate school funded predoctoral
students. The trainees will continue to participate in program professional development activities
for the duration of their predoctoral training period.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9960519
- **Project number:** 5T32GM110523-07
- **Recipient organization:** MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Robert Louis Last
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $289,234
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2014-07-01 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9960519

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9960519, Plant Biotechnology for Health and Sustainability (5T32GM110523-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9960519. Licensed CC0.

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