Administrative Structure
The Graduate Training Program in Developmental Biology spans schools, departments, and graduate programs within all of Penn. Its administrative home is the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology in the Perelman School of Medicine. The department contributes space and supports a manager, Megan Pellette. Megan oversees trainees appointments, and organizes training grant functions and activities.
Program Directors
Executive Committee
The Training Program is overseen by an executive committee responsible for executing an annual review of the Program, approving any changes to the Program, approving the appointment of new trainers, the evaluation of continuing trainers, and a yearly review of the training program. This committee meets at least once a year and has diverse representation. Joining the PIs Dr. Granato and Dr. Mourkioti are: Dr. Meera Sundaram, Professor of Genetics (joined 2023); Dr. Alex Hughes, Assistant Professor of Bioengineering in Cell and Developmental Biology (joined 2023); Dr. Rajan Jain, Associate Professor of Medicine (joined 2023); Dr. Greg Bashaw, Professor of Genetics (joined 2024); and DSRB graduate student, Joseph Yano (joined 2025). Student representation will change every two years. Every three years two faculty members will rotate off of the Executive Committee and two new faculty will join.
Annual Review
The review consists of three components. First, an analysis of publications, time-to-degree and placement of trainees along career paths. Second, an anonymous online survey of current and former trainees to provide feedback on training grant-specific activities (e.g. lunch time meetings, profession development activities, yearly symposiums). Third, a full day review which includes an eminent outside scientist who will then report on the relative strengths and relative weaknesses of the Program, and make specific recommendations for improvement.
*This training program is funded through the National Institute of Health (T32HD083185). The project period is 05/01/2015-04/30/2026.