# Biomolecular Science and Engineering Training Program

> **NIH NIH T32** · RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE · 2020 · $186,201

## Abstract

This proposal represents a renewal proposal for the Biomolecular Science and Engineering Training Program
at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the University at Albany. The objectives of the Training Program are
aimed at increased interaction among students from the four departmental disciplines of Biological Sciences,
Biomedical Engineering, Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Chemistry and Chemical Biology at
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with didactic, research, technology transfer & commercialization, and
industrial components. This Training Program will provide the trainee with a keen understanding of the
interdisciplinary nature of research, how it depends on fundamental underpinnings of both science and
engineering, how it leads to innovative new scientific disciplines and technologies, and how commercial
products are developed. Faculty from the aforementioned programs as well as the Department of Computer
Science from the University at Albany (a total of 25 faculty mentors) are actively involved in research programs
spanning Synthetic Biology & Biomanufacturing, Regenerative Engineering & Biotherapeutics, and
Computational Biology & Bioinformatics. Biocatalysis, Bioseparations, Biomaterials, Biomolecular-
Structure-Function-&-Analysis, Data Science and Entrepreneurship, and Molecular Biology & Bioinformatics
therefore become common training areas to build a strong program in biomolecular science and engineering.
Key aspects of the training program include: [1] a set of four courses that maximize didactic training among the
key disciplines; [2] a core course entitled “Perspectives in Biomolecular Science and Engineering” that is taken
by all trainees; [3] a seminar series and research symposia that build on current campus-wide programs at
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and its clinical and industry partners; [4] a student-run seminar program,
where trainees and other students in the area of biomolecular science and engineering present their research
to their peers and training faculty; [5] training in responsible conduct of research; [6] joint supervision and
multidisciplinary thesis committee membership for Ph.D. thesis work in biomolecular science and engineering;
[7] an industrial internship; [8] poster presentation and participation in the annual meeting of the CBIS Industry
Partners Program; [9] entrepreneurship and commercial translation training and [10] an annual retreat in
biomolecular science and engineering at which trainees and others on campus interact with outside
researchers in the field. An Executive Committee ensures that the trainees satisfy these requirements and an
Underrepresented Minority Recruitment (URM) Committee actively engaged in, identifies and recruits URMs
into the program. In addition to the six trainee slots per year proposed herein, Rensselaer will support three
Institute trainees per year.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9968446
- **Project number:** 5T32GM067545-15
- **Recipient organization:** RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
- **Principal Investigator:** Deepak Vashishth
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $186,201
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2002-11-01 → 2021-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9968446

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9968446, Biomolecular Science and Engineering Training Program (5T32GM067545-15). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9968446. Licensed CC0.

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