Developing a community of Interdisciplinary Scholars at
The University of Chicago
Julie FederInstitute for Biophysical
Dynamics5 March 2006
Institute for Biophysical DynamicsIn Center for Integrative Science
Computation Institute
Consortium for Nanoscience Research
*Specialization in Cellular & Molecular Biology
*Specialization in Ecology and Evolution*Specialization in ImmunologySpecialization in GeneticsSpecialization in MicrobiologySpecialization in Neuroscience
*requires research experience
Biological Sciences Collegiate Division (BSCD)
Faculty
Undergraduates in Natural SciencesBiological Sciences Collegiate Division (BSCD)
MGCB, BMB, Ecol/Evol, OBA, NPP,Clinical Departments doing basic science
Physical Sciences Collegiate Division (PSCD)Chemistry, Geophysical Sciences, Physics, Astronomy and Astrophysicsmath, CS, Stat
HHMI Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
HHMI Summer Program in Neuroscience and Neuroengineering
*Physical and Chemical Biology Training Program (PCBio)
*Beckman Scholars Program in Molecular Sciences
Research Opportunities
Why ChicagoTeacher of TeachersLaboratory for Educational ExperimentationInterdisciplinary historyOutstanding StudentsHighly Ranked Departments
Cultural Barriers at Chicago
Learning about biological v. Physical Sciences
Understanding/Evaluating Science
Program Goals
Transform the culture at Chicago Tribal to Interdisciplinary
Bring together the CommunityPhysical Sciences FacultyInstitutesMedical SchoolBasic Sciences
Why Undergraduates?
Early InterventionCurriculum/EducableCuriousPassionateOutcomes & Impact
Approach
•Community of Scholars
•Create Links between Students and Faculty
•Empowering the Fellows for Independence
Student Centered Program
Proposals come from Students, not PICompetitively vettedStipends for Fellows Opportunity to interact with students,
not Mentors
Community of Scholars
Weekly MeetingsOral presentationsOpen discussion
Retreat with ID Graduate StudentsPromoting long-term Relationships
Faculty director’s Role
Alternative, IndependentShared Commitment from parallel historyNon-conformistsRapid ResponseConnected sideways and upwards
Empowering the Fellows for Independence
Personal relationships/directors as MentorsFellows Impact Program EvolutionGenerations passing on Culture
Student Selection
Based on student-generated proposalEvaluated by two faculty members
(from PSD and BSD)
Fellows participate in:Life in BSD labweekly Student seminarsSpring quarter-biophysical Discussions
Time line
Application deadline End of Winter QStudent Interviews Beginning of Spring QAwards announced Mid AprilSummer Program Begins mid JuneSummer Program ends mid August
Mentors: Biologists paired with quantitative scientist
Computer SciencesChemistsPhysicistsStatisticians(Mathematicians)
Why Roadmap initiative
NIH conservative, Tribal, SegmentedHigh Risk, High RewardBroadly Cross-disciplinary
Math/Stat to Therapy
Quantitative biology
How much Math do biologists need to know
Biology is increasing quantitativeimportance of models in biology
large data sets generated bygenomic/proteomic approaches
Mathematical Methods For Biological Scientists
I linear Algebra, DE, Dynamical Systemsii Partial Differentials, Vector spaces,
Fourier TransformationsIII probability, PC Analysis,
Stochastic processes
Lab component
Thanks!
Steve KronAssociate ProfessorMolecular Genetics & Cell Biology
All of you
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