Biotechnology Training in Biomedical Sciences and Engineering Program

Program Description and Call for Trainee Applications

The goal of the UCLA Biotechnology Training Program is to educate and to train the next generation of highly skilled scientists and engineers who will assume leadership roles in multidisciplinary biotechnology research. 

This goal will be achieved through a cohesive training program entailing cross-disciplinary research, a common curriculum composed of formal coursework in life science and engineering and of research seminars, and an industrial internship.  An important aspect of the training program will be the promotion of meaningful research interaction between biomedical scientists and engineers.  The interface between the life/health sciences and engineering is extraordinarily rich in its diversity. 

This biotechnology program focuses at the molecular and cellular level where engineers contribute expertise on, for example, the analysis of complex metabolic reaction networks, computational analysis of macromolecular structure, creation of biosensors and other research tools, and the invention of molecular scale devices and processes incorporating both biological and synthetic components. 

Trainees who complete The Program will appreciate the complementary roles of life scientists and engineering in biotechnology and will be equipped to function productively in the multidisciplinary teams prevalent in the industry.  The Program is funded by National Institutes of Health (NIH) with 20% matching funds from the UCLA Graduate Division and administrative support provided by the UCLA HSSEAS.

Download the Application Forms.

Program: This prestigious two-year training program includes:

l       Required coursework: Biological Chemistry CM253 (4 units); Chemical Engineering CM245 (4 units); Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics C234 (2 units); and enrollment in the Biotechnology Forum, Chemical Engineering/MIMG CM233 (2 units) each winter quarter

l       Attendance at and participation in the monthly Biotechnology Training Program Student Seminar Series

l       Cross-disciplinary biotechnology thesis research project co-advised by the home department faculty mentor and a collaborating faculty mentor chosen from the Program Faculty.  One mentor should be from an engineering department and the other should be from a health/life sciences department.

l       At least a 3-month laboratory rotation in the collaborating faculty mentor’s laboratory

l    Industrial internship

l    Participation in the UCLA Biotechnology Annual Meeting

l    Requirements of trainee’s degree-granting program

Program Faculty: A total of 18 faculty, split between engineers and biomedical scientists, participate in the Training Program.  All conduct research focused at the molecular and cellular level, and many have established cross-disciplinary collaborations.  The Faculty hold appointments in a number of academic units in the HSSEAS, the College, and the School of Medicine including Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering IDP, Biological Chemistry, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Human Genetics, Materials Science & Engineering, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, and Neuroscience (please see the Program Faculty Roster attached).

Eligibility:  The NIH limits eligibility to US citizens or permanent residents.  The applicant should be a PhD student, typically entering his/her second year of study, who has chosen a Program faculty member as research mentor.

Awards:  Awards are for two years.  A stipend is provided by The Program, which generally must be supplemented by the research mentor to the level of a typical Research Assistantship.  Tuition and fees (including health coverage) and a travel allowance of up to $300 per year also are provided.  The next award period begins July 1, 2005.

Selection: Selection is based on applicant progress and achievement at UCLA; prior academic record; recommendations from the applicant’s research mentor, the collaborating mentor described above, and one additional professional reference; and a statement of purpose prepared by the prospective trainee.  The Training Committee selects and guides the trainees.

 Biotechnology Training Program Faculty Roster

 Industrial Affiliates

BioCatalytics, Pasadena, CA

SkyePharma, San Diego, CA

Merck, West Point, PA

Amgen, Thousand Oaks, CA

Metabolix, Cambridge, MA

Cargill, Minneapolis, MN

Dow, San Diego, CA

DuPont, Wilmington, DE

Genencor, Palo Alto, CA