Chemistry-Biology Interface Program Details

NIH Predoctoral fellowships at the Chemistry-Biology Interface (CBI) are available to rising second or third year students in the Chemistry or BGS Graduate Groups.  Students who have selected to carry out dissertation research with one of the  trainers in the program and within the theme of the program are eligible to apply for a fellowship when Requests for Applications are announced.  To insure cross-fertilization between the chemistry and biology students, those selected for support by the training grant will be required to also participate in the following activities:

  1. Coursework that crosses the chemistry-biology academic boundary and centers around the mechanistic chemistry of proteins. Specifically, students must have completed or agree to complete the following course requirements (or their equivalent).
    a. Chemical Biology (CHEM 751)
    b. 2 of 4 of the following courses: Organic Mechanisms (CHEM 441), Cell Biology and Biochemistry (BIOM 600), Current Biochemistry Topics (Raiziss Rounds, BMB 650), Mechanisms of Biological Catalysis (CHEM 557)
  2. Active participation in the Chemical Biophysics Minisymposium (involved in the organization of at least one minisymposium per year).
  3. Participation in a monthly luncheon in which students take turns presenting their research to each other.
  4. Participation in annual Chemistry-Biology Interface Retreats in which students interact and formally present their work to each other and other trainees.
  5. Participation in annual Mid-Atlantic Frontiers at the Chemistry-Biology Interface Symposia where members of CBI programs from the Mid-Atlantic region interact.
  6. Students will be required to present an annual update to the CBI Training Committee on their scientific progress and participation in program activities to the CBI Training Committee. Fellowship renewal (for one additional year) will be contingent on participation in the program activities and adequate research progress.

Inquiries about the program should be directed to the program director, Ronen Marmorstein, at marmor@upenn.edu or Morgan Kelly at morgan.kelly1@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.