# Predoctoral Training Program in Biotechnology

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · 2020 · $230,734

## Abstract

Project Summary
 This application requests continued support for 6 trainees for a Predoctoral Training
Program (TP) in Biotechnology that was first funded in 1990. If granted, these 6 lines will
be matched by 6 more lines by the University of Iowa, through its Center for Biocatalysis
and Bioprocessing (CBB). The CBB will also continue to provide the administrative and
additional financial. This institutional match will allow the TP to select a yearly cohort of
12 predoctoral students. The CBB will also provide administrative assistance and
training in industrial settings and will expose trainees to commercial aspects of
biotechnology. This matching support will greatly increases the effectiveness of the
funds requested from NIH and assures an extensive industrial emphasis in training.
 The TP is designed to provide a deep and diverse education to trainees, including
academic training covering qualitative and quantitative aspects of biotechnology, hands-
on introduction to industrial methods, and preparation for professional life in
biotechnology. Trainees are required to: a) complete an industrial internship for three
months; b) take at least one course in each of the three core areas of biotechnology
(Biocatalysis, Bioreactors & Bioseparations, Molecular Biology & Genetics); c) take the
program's capstone course, “Introduction to Biocatalysis”; d) take a course in
Responsible Conduct of Research; e) participate in the “Perspectives in Biocatalysis”
class and activities every semester; f) participate in TP's Seminars; g) present research
in an annual Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing Conference and the annual TP symposium;
and h) participate in various trainee-cohort social and networking activities.
 Candidates are selected toward the end of their first year in graduate school, and
support for trainees may be renewed for up to two years, however all trainees continue
in the program until graduation. The recruiting pool is based not on departmental
affiliation but on interest in biotechnology, graduate training. Currently 33 trainers from
four different colleges, and two interdisciplinary PhD programs participate in this TP. The
diverse trainers cohort, together with the CBB partnership, provides trainees with a
broad training experience including significant exposure to non-academic career paths.
The TP is administered by a Leadership Team (a PI and three Co-PIs) and an Executive
Committee. An External Review Panel provides independent input to assure relevance
to the leadership and training needs of Biotech industry and research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9965995
- **Project number:** 5T32GM008365-29
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
- **Principal Investigator:** Robert John Kerns
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $230,734
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1990-07-01 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9965995

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9965995, Predoctoral Training Program in Biotechnology (5T32GM008365-29). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9965995. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*