Program Description & Eligibility:
SUMMARY:
The NIH Biotechnology Training Grant at the University of Texas at Austin provides graduate students with an interdisciplinary education in the area of Molecular Sensors and Nanobiotechnology, a rapidly growing segment of industry and academic and national laboratory research.
The training program entails interdisciplinary research, a core curriculum consisting of an "Introduction to Biotechnology" course and two required "biotechnology concentration" classes selected from a list of courses, the option to receive a "Doctoral Portfolio" (certificate) in biotechnology, a biotechnology seminar series, a workshop on the responsible conduct of research and intellectual property, an annual off-site retreat with an industrial keynote speaker, and an industrial internship (or the option to take two entrepreneurship courses as part of the "Entrepreneurship Option").
Sponsored by the National Institutes of
Health, the NIH Biotechnology Training Program requirements are more
demanding than standard departmental requirements, however, trainees
benefit from increased contact with faculty and students from outside
their department, and through opportunities for closer contact with the
biotechnology industry. This is a competitive and prestigious program.
ELIGILIBILITY:
The program is open to graduate students who
are pursing or intend to pursue a Ph.D. with one of the
Training Faculty. Students obtain a Ph.D.
degree in the discipline of their individual department (e.g., Biomedical
Engineering, Chemistry, Molecular Biology, Chemical Engineering). Students
must be U.S. Citizens or permanent residents.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
-- The NIH Biotechnology TG Program covers the student’s stipend (current
NIH rate is $18,156/year).
-- A supplement of $5,000 is provided in addition to the stipend to cover the costs of medical insurance.
-- Tuition and fees are paid in full.
-- The normal period of tenure as a trainee is 3 years.
-- Funds are available annually for travel
to interdisciplinary conferences.
PROGRAM COMPONENTS:
-- Interdisciplinary coursework
-- Biotechnology seminar series
-- Annual off-site retreat
-- Training in Responsible Conduct of Research
-- An industrial
internship of 2-3 months