What Makes this Training Program Great

• This program has a rich history and tradition of excellence in Biotechnology Graduate Education since 1990.
• The scope of this program is broad and covers many/most areas of Biotechnology: 33 mentors from 9 departments from 4 colleges at the University of Iowa with research fields ranging from basic enzymology to biosensor, and from physical chemistry to pre-clinical studies.
• The training program enjoys close relations with the UI Center for Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing, doubling the numbers of training lines (matching NIH lines 1:1), and offering a range of opportunities in Biotechnology training, in classes and hands on opportunities.
• The industrial internship is a major component that enables PhD students to experience career tracks in Biotechnology that are different than that of their advisor and match future needs of Biotechnology Industry.
• The leadership team, executive committee, and external board provide a diverse and broad umbrella that benefits from representation of students, faculty from all departments involved, the CBB, and external experts in Biotechnology education and industry.
• The program goes all-out to include trainees from a disadvantageous background, underrepresented minorities, and students with disabilities. One of the co-directors of the program is devoted solely to enhancing this effort.
• The Training Program strives to: Promote intellectual interaction and communication between scientists at Iowa and biotechnology industries; Provide a unique opportunity for predoctoral students to gain experience in both academic and non-academic aspects of biotechnology; Provide highly-educated personnel for biotechnology research and teaching careers in industry, academe and government; Train predoctoral students in pursuing funding and communicating their findings; Provide leadership in creating new interdisciplinary academic opportunities at the University of Iowa; and to foster diversity in the education and participation of students and faculty from minority racial/ethnic groups, women, and other groups that are underrepresented in the field of biotechnology.
• Trainees are required to complete a range of activities to broaden the scope of their training: Unique coursework; Participation in conferences and symposia; Responsible conduct of research (beyond the institutional and federal scope); and an industrial internship.