NIH and CBB fellowships are administered by the Center. These fellowships provide research training focusing on the applications of biological and physical sciences to biotechnology-related research. Faculties from the physical and biological sciences offer a curriculum bridging the interdisciplinary gap, essential for biotechnology training programs. For example, cooperative involvement of faculty members from several departments as research mentors provides a superior research training experience.
Awards:
CBB fellowships and NIH fellowships will be awarded for a maximum of two years to any duly enrolled graduate student working in the laboratory of a CBB faculty member (Faculty can apply for CBB membership post award). Awards are made on an annual basis and members of the CBB Excutive Committee solicit new applications and renewal applications each spring for competitive evaluation. Particular considerations will be given to applications from students in the 1st or 2nd year of their graduate program.
Application:
The Application Process for the 2020-21 academic year CBB/NIH Predoctoral Training Program in Biotechnology Fellowship is currently not available. Due to the current Coronavirus situation, only renewal applications will be accepted for 2020 -21 fellowship.
The completed application is due June 1, 2020.
Requirements:
The CBB/NIH fellowship program is truly interdisciplinary. All fellows earn a Ph.D. degree with a dissertation based on research conducted in the laboratory of participating faculty members. They complete all departmental requirements for the Ph.D. degree. Requirements and core area courses for the fellowship program are outlined below.
| Fellowship Program Requirements* | |
| Requirement | |
| 1. | Admission to the Ph.D. program in participating departments. |
| 2. | Attendance and participation in the Biocatalysis Seminar Program. |
| 3. | Course, “Perspectives in Biocatalysis ” - an annual research presentation is the basis of this course. (required of all trainees (every spring semester; cross-listed as Chem:5875, PHAR:5875, BIOC:5875, CEE:5875, MICR:5875, CBE:5875) |
| 4. | Nomination by a faculty member |
| 5. | Internship in research laboratories of industries involved in biotechnology. |
| 6. | Attend and participate in mini-symposia, which are one- day industry/academic conferences held at The University of Iowa |
| 7. | Present one or more posters at the Annual Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing Conference. |
| 8. | Courses required by the student’s “home” department, and a minimum of 2-3 s.h. of coursework in each of the three core areas in biotechnology. |
| 9. | Complete the university-wide course, “Responsible Conduct of Research”, which is offered each fall semester |
* Questions regarding coursework requirements should be directed to Robert Kerns, Training Program Director 319 335-8800 or the CBB Office at 319 335-4903.
| Core-Area Courses | ||
| Subject | S.H. | |
| Biocatalysis | ||
| CHEM:4480 | Intro to Molecular Modeling | 3 |
| CHEM:5295 | Bioinorganic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM:5328 | Mechanisms of Organic Reactions | 3 |
| PHARM:5537 | Enzymatic Basis of Drug Metabolism | 3 |
| PHARM:5512 | Drug Discovery and Mechanisms | 3 |
| PHARM:5545 | Current Medicinal Chemistry | 3 |
| CBE:5250 | Introduction to Biocatalysis | 3 |
| MICR:6279 | Graduate Bacterial Diversity and the Human Microbiome | 3 |
| MICR:6260 | Graduate Microbial Physiology | 3 |
| BIOC:5241 | Biophysical Chemistry | 3 |
| BIOC:3140 | Biophysical Chemistry II | 3 |
| Core-Area Courses | ||
| Subject | S.H. | |
| Bioreactors and Bioseparations | ||
| CHEM:5109 | Separations | 3 |
| CHEM:4850 | Upstream Biotechnology Processes | 2 |
| CBE:5215 | Introduction to Biochemical Engineering | 3 |
| CBE:5210 | Bioseparations | 3 |
| CBE:5250 | Introduction to Biocatalysis | 3 |
| CEE:5155 | Biological Treatment Processes | 3 |
| PHARM:5549 | Analytical Biochemistry | 3 |
| Core-Area Courses | ||
| Subject | S.H. | |
| Molecular Biology and Genetics | ||
| BIOC:3120 | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I | 3 |
| BIOC:3130 | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II | 3 |
| BIOC:3140 | Experimental Biochemistry | 4 |
| CBE:6215 | Engineering Aspects of Animal Cell Culture | 3 |
| MICR:6270 | Graduate Microbial Genetics | 3 |
| BMED:5207:000A | Principle Molecular & Cellular Biology | 3 |
CBB
CBB Fellowships are available to selected graduate students for a maximum of two years. Fellowships are awarded after review of the CBB Executive Committee. Coursework and internship requirements are the same as those for NIH trainees.
NIH
The NIH training program attracts high-quality students who, after review by the CBB Executive Committee, may receive the fellowship for a maximum of two years. Annually, students present their research as part of the “Perspectives in Biocatalysis” course. NIH trainees are also required to pursue an internship in industry of at least 3 months.