Graduate Traineeship Positions starting 2011 Our new Brown-MBL IGERT program (Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship) was recently funded for five years to train students broadly in the realm of "Reverse Ecology: Computational Integration of Genomes, Organisms and Environments". We anticipate accepting at least 5 students into the program this fall 2011, and we are searching for PhD students interested in this interdisciplinary training experience. An overview of the goal of the program, the curriculum, student mentoring, and application information are given below.
Reverse Ecology: Computational Integration of Genomes, Organisms and Environments David Rand (Brown University) PI coIs: Zoe Cardon (MBL), Sorin Istrail (Brown Univ.), Johanna Schmitt (Brown Univ.), Mitch Sogin (MBL) General abstract: This IGERT award supports a novel graduate program in Reverse Ecology training PhDs at the interface of computational biology, genomics and environmental science. It leverages new education and research collaborations between Brown University and the Marine Biological Laboratory. Reverse Ecology is the application of genomic approaches to living systems to uncover the genetic bases of functional variation in nature. The revolution in high-throughput DNA sequencing and gene expression technologies redefines the notion of a ‘model’ organism. Interrogation of genomes from animals, plants and microbial communities can identify genetic markers of processes at multiple scales: ecological, physiological, developmental, transcriptional. The full interpretation of these powerful datasets demands intellectual dialogue between ecosystems ecologists, microbial geneticists, biogeochemists, and computational biologists. We will train a cohort of PhDs who can apply these technologies to convert genomic and computational power into novel insights of organismal function in nature. Program highlights include 1) a year long immersion course focused at Long Term Ecological Research sites where students design an experiment and use high-throughput genomic and computational strategies to test hypotheses for the preparation of multi- authored manuscripts; 2) jointly mentored research rotations where students and faculty cross disciplinary boundaries; and 3) career training integrating grant writing, public speaking, ethics, diversity and international perspectives on science. This graduate program’s research themes -- 1) microbial and comparative genomics; 2) genetic responses to environmental stressors; 3) assembling genomes from environmental samples -- also engage IBM and the J Craig Ventor Institute, creating the opportunity for training PhDs in university, institutional, and corporate environments to become leaders in the identification and integration of scientific questions across formerly distant disciplines. There are three core research areas: --Microbial and Comparative Genomics Initiative --Organismal Responses to Environmental Gradients Initiative --Community Genome Assembly Initiative The IGERT-specific curriculum includes: (1) Full year "Immersion Course" (2) One additional course in each of 4 areas: Ecology & Evolution Molecular & Cell Biology Computer Science Applied Mathematics & Statistics (3) Research rotations (nearby in labs, or at far-flung long-term ecological research sites, or in industry w/ IBM TJ Watson Research Center or the J. Craig Venter Institute) (4) Course in scientific professionalism in a global context (CVs, interviewing, data sharing and collaboration, careers inside and outside academia) The full year "Immersion Course" features: Field Biology -- retreat & sampling at a focal, local long-term ecological research site (for 2011, Plum Island Estuary LTER) Project Development and Experimental Design Wet Lab Methods -- hands-on learning beyond the kits Computational and Statistical Analysis -- Perl, Python, R...what to do with the data Data Presentation and Manuscript Preparation -- mini-symposium, project manuscripts Student mentoring and support includes: --Each student is jointly mentored by one Brown faculty member in the student's home department and one Brown or MBL faculty member in a different department. Also, each student has an advisory committee upon admission to Brown, to help the student determine which classes best suit the student's interests. --Students admitted to many Brown departments are guaranteed 5 years of funding. For IGERT students, the first two years of work will be covered by IGERT funds. Other sources of funds support years 3, 4, and 5. --Each fellowship includes ~$30K stipend and a ~$10.5K institutional allowance, as well as funds supporting attendance at a national conference . --Research supply funds are also available for support of genomic analyses in the core "Immersion Course" and rotation projects. For more information: See http://brown.edu/reverse-ecology-igert/ (on-line Oct. 1, 2010, with continuing updates) E-mail [email protected] or [email protected] To apply: Students interested in applying to the Brown – MBL IGERT Program in Reverse Ecology are strongly encouraged to contact prospective advisors and mentors at both Brown University and MBL well in advance of the application due date. Applicants should prepare a regular application to the PhD program in any one of the Brown University host graduate programs, and the application should clearly state that the IGERT program is of interest. (Students can also indicate on the application form that the Brown-MBL graduate program, http://www.mbl.edu/brown/ , is also of interest, if an MBL mentor is chosen.) The general application should be initiated through the Brown Graduate School Website: http://www.brown.edu/gradschool/ (follow the “Apply” link) Applications can be targeted to any one of a number of Brown University departments depending on the applicant's primary interests, for example Applied Math; Computer Science; Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; or Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry. __________________________ Zoe G. Cardon, Senior Scientist | The Ecosystems Center, MBL | 7 MBL Street | Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543-1015 | Phone: 508-289-7473 | Fax: 508-457-1548 | E-Mail: [email protected] | http://ecosystems.mbl.edu/staff/cardon.html
