NRT research and innovation: Advancing the understanding of complex living systems
Discoveries in biology allow the exploration of the very foundations of life, from the smallest molecules and simplest cells to entire civilizations and complex ecosystems. Biological research that bridges diverse scientific disciplines is vital to deepening the understanding of dynamic living systems and how to help them thrive. It can lead to technological breakthroughs around the most critical societal challenges — from developing innovative medicines that cure disease to improving the environmental resilience of plants for global food security.
The U.S. National Science Foundation Research Traineeship Program (NRT) is committed to supporting researchers across the country who are advancing the biological sciences. By funding innovative science, technology, engineering and mathematics graduate programs focused on cutting-edge, convergent biological research, NRT is building a new generation of biologists prepared to become leaders in a wide range of fields, including botany, ecology, neuroscience, genetics and beyond. Read about three institutions leveraging NRT to support breakthroughs in the biological sciences.
Plants3D — Discover, Design, Deploy at the University of California, Riverside
Harnessing the power and wisdom of plants holds great promise in addressing some of the greatest challenges in agriculture and biotechnology. With the planet's population rapidly expanding, biologists are seeking new ways to improve the environmental resilience of plants to increase crop production and ensure global food security. At the University of California, Riverside, the Plants3D — Discover, Design, Deploy NRT based at the Center for Plant Cell Biology has set out to provide a new generation of STEM graduate students with "the knowledge and skills to combine plant and microbial biology with engineering technologies to discover, design and deploy plant-inspired solutions" to our food security challenges.
Offering highly convergent plant science training related to food security and human health, Plants3D connects faculty and graduate students from various disciplines and departments, such as botany, genetics, biochemistry, plant pathology, engineering, computer science and beyond. In addition to in-depth, interdisciplinary coursework, the program provides the resources for trainees to pursue cutting-edge team-based research. This work fosters entrepreneurialism by encouraging trainees to translate their research discoveries into practical applications. Plants3D is committed to changing the fact that only 3% of the biotechnology workforce is Hispanic or Black by significantly expanding opportunities for minority and first-generation STEM students. This work prepares a new generation of biologists to take on careers in industry, academia and government agencies and lead crucial discoveries in agricultural biotechnology.
Synthetic Biology PhD Training Program at Northwestern University
The field of synthetic biology, which focuses on transforming existing biological organisms and redesigning them for new purposes, is ripe with possibility. Synthetic biologists are making vital research breakthroughs that touch nearly every aspect of daily life, from creating new foods and fuels using sustainable materials to inventing "smart medicines" to treat disease and improve health.
The Synthetic Biology PhD Training Program (SynBAS) NRT at Northwestern University has developed a STEM graduate program allowing trainees to explore "how biology becomes technology" and harness the power of synthetic biology. Trainees explore the principles of living systems — such as molecules, cells, organisms and communities — while drawing on lessons from chemistry, physics, biology, engineering, mathematics, business and more. This convergent approach to synthetic biology training provides unique insight into how synthesizing diverse phenomena can lead to powerful technological breakthroughs. Beyond innovative coursework, SynBAS provides trainees with career mentoring and networking connections to academia and industry, preparing them to become leaders in the synthetic biological sciences.
Data Driven Biology at the University of California, Santa Barbara
In 2021, the University of California, Santa Barbara launched the Data Driven Biology (DDB) NRT with the goal of training "a new generation of biological scientists and engineers who are able to work across disciplines to advance fundamental research in quantitative biology and bioengineering." DDB builds connections among trainees working in a wide range of fields, from electrical, computer and mechanical engineering to molecular, cellular and developmental biology. Through coursework, mentoring and hands-on "in vivo research," the program builds trainees' fluency in data analytics and experimental and modeling methods to engage in data-dense quantitative biology experiments.