Nominations for NRSA T32s
2023-2024 Nominations for NRSA T32s:
Computational Genomics
Developmental Biology
Cell and Molecular Biology
Genetics
The following training grants are soliciting nominations of graduate students for the 2023-2024 academic year through a BGS-managed system. Training grants fund a significant portion of a student’s tuition, fees, and stipend. Appointment to a training grant is recognition of academic promise and distinction and, in some cases, provides additional training opportunities or funds for travel to scientific meetings. To be eligible for consideration, a student must be a US citizen or permanent resident (green card holder) and must have received no more than four years of NRSA funding by the time of appointment. Additional criteria for each grant are specified in the descriptions below. Please note: you may apply for more than 1 grant, provided you meet the eligibility criteria; however, the grants may have different deadlines, so apply by the earliest deadline.
Please note that two of these grants -- Cell and Molecular Biology and Genetics -- are up for renewal. Appointment for a second year of grant support is contingent upon renewed funding.
Opportunities for students who will have reached dissertation level - May 26 & 29 deadline
Developmental Biology
The training grant in Developmental Biology (TG-DB) provides support for students in years three through five (dissertation level) whose dissertation research is directed towards basic mechanisms of developmental biology applied to a diversity of vertebrate, invertebrate, and plant systems. Research areas appropriate for support include but are not limited to transcriptional and cell signaling mechanisms that control cell lineage determination, differentiation, migration, organogenesis, cellular senescence, morphogenesis, pattern formation; epigenetic regulation of developmental processes, and stem cell biology. Training activities include a yearly retreat during which trainees present their research to peers and mentors; participation in professional development activities consisting of presentations and lunches with invited speakers to discuss career options in the biomedical sciences, including research-related careers (e.g. science/medical writing; research in industry or government agencies; patent law/intellectual property; science policies development). For a full description of the training activities please visit the training grant’s web site at http://www.med.upenn.edu/dbtraininggrant/ Appointments are for up to two years. Program Director: Dr. Michael Granato, granatom@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
The deadline for students to submit their applications for the Developmental Biology T32 is May 29, 2023. Letters from recommenders will be solicited by the nomination system once the student submits the application. Students should contact recommenders and inform them of the process as early as possible. Letters are due by June 12, 2023. Appointments will be made effective July 1 or according to availability.
Computational Genomics
The Computational Genomics training grant provides support to students in years three through five (dissertation level) whose PhD dissertation research is in the areas of computational biology and bioinformatics. Students will have taken or are expected to take quantitative courses including GCB 5360, GCB 5370, and STAT 5100 or GCB 5330. Other quantitative courses will be recommended depending on prior experiences. The standard appointment length on the training grant is two years. In exceptional circumstances, a trainee may be appointed for additional years. Training areas typically involve the collection and interpretation of "high-throughput" data and development of quantitative models and methods. Examples include automated annotation of sequence data; study of genetic variation; whole genome studies of defined phenotypes in development, behavior, complex diseases or aging; analysis of protein structure and function; and use of large scale RNA and protein expression for modeling biological processes. We emphasize strong statistical and computational component to proposed research and training curriculum. Training activities of the grant include participation in the weekly Genomics and Computational Biology "chalk talks", the Penn Bioinformatics Forum seminar series, and retreats. Program Directors: Junhyong Kim, 215-746-5187, junhyong@sas.upenn.edu and Maja Bucan, bucan@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
The deadline for students to submit their applications for the Computational Genomics T32 has been extended to May 26, 2023. Letters from recommenders will be solicited by the nomination system once the student submits the application. Students should contact recommenders and inform them of the process as early as possible. Letters are due by June 9, 2023. Appointments will be made effective July 1 or according to availability.
Opportunities for students who are entering year two (or sometimes three) - June 12 and 13 deadline
Cell and Molecular Biology
The Cell and Molecular Biology training grant provides support to PhD students entering their second year of study, who have taken (or will take) BIOM 6000 (Cell Biology) and BIOM 5550 (Regulation of the Genome) and whose dissertation research will address fundamental processes in cell and/or molecular biology. The time frame of this grant precludes consideration of combined degree students. The appointment length on the training grant is two years, assuming that the students remain in good academic standing. Training activities include: attending the annual CAMB Retreat, presenting a short oral presentation on their dissertation research each year, attending Trainee Luncheons twice per year in which previous Trainees present a seminar on their research, attending career development workshops, and identifying and hosting an Invited Seminar Speaker. The training program also provides mentoring and career development to former Trainees. Additionally, we conduct mock study sections to review fellowship applications.
Additional information is available on the program’s web site: http://www.med.upenn.edu/cmbt32/ Program Directors: Dr. Marisa Bartolomei, 215-898-9063, bartolom@pennmedicine.upenn.edu and Dr. Mickey Marks, 215-590-3664, marksm@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
The deadline for students to submit their applications for the Cell and Molecular Biology T32 is June 12, 2023. Letters from recommenders will be solicited by the nomination system once the student submits the application. Students should contact recommenders and inform them of the process as early as possible. Letters are due by June 26, 2023. Appointments will be made effective July 1 or according to availability.
Genetics
The Genetics training grant provides training to students in years two, three and four whose dissertation research is directed towards basic genetic mechanisms. New appointments will occur at the beginning of year 2 or 3 and may continue through year 4, contingent on satisfactory performance and available funding. All trainees must take a Genetics course such as CAMB550/Genetic Principles and a statistics course such as BIOM6100/Foundations in Statistics; these requirements can be fulfilled after appointment in year 2. Trainees can NOT have received prior support from other NIH-funded training grants. The research areas of the training faculty include model organism genetics, human genetics, cancer genetics, population genetics, genome organization and regulation, and epigenetics. Training activities of the grant include participation in the weekly Genetics Research-in-Progress seminar series, annual Genetics symposium, quarterly trainee meetings, and mentored preparation of an individual NRSA fellowship application, as well as opportunities to attend national scientific conferences, host student-invited seminar speakers and participate in Genetics Career Forum events.
Additional information is available on the program’s web site: https://www.med.upenn.edu/gent32/ Program Director: Dr. Doug Epstein, 215-573-4810, epsteind@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
The deadline for students to submit their applications for the Genetics T32 is June 13, 2023. Letters from recommenders will be solicited by the nomination system once the student submits the application. Students should contact recommenders and inform them of the process as early as possible. Letters are due by June 26, 2023. Appointments will be made effective July 1 or according to availability.
Nominations must be initiated by the student through the following process:
Go to http://my.med.upenn.edu/
and select the Training Grant Nomination form through this route:
MY.MED > Student Tools > BGS Forms > Training Grant Nominations
1. Student indicates which grant they are applying for, checks the information pre-populated by the system, provides additional information, and indicates the faculty members who will be writing letters of support.
NOTE: The student should provide a statement of research interests and two letters of recommendation, one from their thesis advisor if the student has already selected their thesis research laboratory. If the thesis lab has not been chosen, the statement of research interests should include potential research project(s) from lab(s) that the student is likely to choose for dissertation research. In addition, the thesis advisor (or potential thesis advisor if the lab has not yet been chosen) must include in their letter of support a statement that they agree to participate in training grant-related activities.
2. System automatically sends email requests to writers of recommendations identified by student.
3. Once the letters are received, the application is assembled and made available to the selection committees.
Non-BGS Students may not be able to access the web link; please contact Marianne Altland altland@pennmedicine.upenn.edu for application instructions.
Questions about a BGS student’s eligibility should be directed to Marianne Altland altland@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.