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The Graduate School

NIH/NCSU Molecular Biotechnology Training Program (MBTP)

The NIH/NCSU Molecular Biotechnology Training Program (MBTP) for graduate students was established with the goal of enhancing students’ research and training in Molecular Biotechnology beyond the exposure provided by their doctoral programs. To participate, students apply to and enroll in existing Ph.D. programs at NC State. While any Ph.D. candidate is eligible to participate in the Molecular Biotechnology Training Program (or elements of it), only students who select one of the 40 Training Grant faculty as their major advisor are eligible to receive Traineeship support. MBTP Traineeships are made possible through funding from an NIH Training Grant along with matching funds from NC State. Normally, students will participate in the second and third years of their Ph.D. program, but first year students can also be considered.

Trainees are selected for a two-year period based on academic performance, after nomination by the student’s faculty advisor and upon approval from the MBTP Executive Committee. Funding for the second year is contingent upon satisfactory progress and participation during the first year of the fellowship and the availability of funds.

Eligibility Requirements:

  1. Trainee candidates will be typically considered during the spring of their first academic year. Nominations should be submitted by MBTP Faculty Members.
  2. Student must be enrolled full time in (or admitted to) a research doctoral program (master’s leading to doctoral permitted) at North Carolina State University by the beginning date of the fellowship. Normally, students will participate in the second and third years of their Ph.D. program
  3. Student must be a citizen, non-citizen national, or a permanent resident of the United States
  4. Student must have an outstanding undergraduate and (if applicable) graduate academic record as evidenced by the cumulative grade point average
  5. Student must have as his or her major advisor one of the MBTP Faculty Members.

Nominations:

Trainee candidates will be typically considered during the spring of their first academic year. MBTP Training faculty will nominate eligible students by submitting the completed nomination packet to Todd Marcks, Fellowships and Grants Administrator, Graduate School, Campus Box 7102. Please submit materials by the deadline noted for each competition.

Nomination packet:

  1. Nomination form available as a fillable PDF document;
  2. Copies of student’s undergraduate and graduate transcripts;
  3. Letter of recommendation from faculty advisor (biotechnology training faculty member);
  4. Statement of intent from student (including research & biotechnology interests); and
  5. Plan for industrial rotation.

Features:

  1. Annual Traineeship Stipend: $28,224 per year. You must enroll in direct deposit through “Student Self Service” via the MyPack Portal in order to receive your stipend. Information regarding direct deposit enrollment in Student Self Service is available online at https://studentservices.ncsu.edu/your-money/bill/refunds-and-reimbursements/direct-deposit/
  2. Travel Allowance: $300 per year. Travel to and from scientific conferences or can be covered in part – requests for funds should be made to the MBTP Director. Please see the guidelines and administrative procedures for using these funds.
  3. Book, Equipment, and Supply Allowance: About $1,100 per year. Please see the guidelines and administrative procedures for using these funds.
  4. Tuition and Health Insurance: Trainees’ in-state portion of tuition, out-of-state tuition remission, and health insurance will be paid for them.
  5. Coursework: During the two-year program, trainees will also participate in a capstone biotechnology course which offers case studies and the opportunity to work with students from different disciplines on a design project. Other course requirements during the traineeship include instruction in research ethics and professional development.
  6. Professional Development: Trainees will join faculty in attending various professional development activities, including an Annual Biotechnology Research Symposium. These events will provide opportunities for Trainees to hear from and interact with distinguished researchers in the academic and industrial biotechnology community. Trainees are also encouraged to participate in the Preparing the Professoriate Program.
  7. Service Project: Trainees will propose and complete a service project that is intended to foster the development of biotechnology by encouraging this career route among K-12 or undergraduate students.
  8. Industrial Rotation: Trainees will participate in a three-month internship in a biotechnological industry laboratory. This experience will be arranged for by the student’s faculty advisor and approved by the MBTP Executive Committee.
  9. Laboratory Instruction: Trainees will participate in Biotechnology courses to an extent sufficient to receive the Biotechnology graduate minor. The Biotechnology program offers a series of laboratory courses beginning with BIT510, Core Technologies in Molecular and Cellular Biology, with additional courses in specific and advanced technologies such as biological information and statistics, computer analysis of DNA sequence, polymerase chain reaction technologies, immunological techniques, bioinformatics, genomic DNA sequencing, cDNA microarrays and cDNA library construction and screening, scientific photography, genomic mapping and DNA fingerprinting and digital imaging.

Additional Information:

  1. Nomination Form
  2. Seminars
  3. Status Report
  4. NC State Biotechnology Program

Contact Us:

If you have specific questions about the academic aspects of the program, please contact:

Dr. Jason Haugh
Program Co-Director
North Carolina State University
919.513.3851
jason_haugh@ncsu.edu

Dr. Robert Kelly
Program Co-Director
North Carolina State University
919.515.6396
rmkelly@ncsu.edu

Dr. Laura Schenkman
Program Coordinator, Biotechnology Program
North Carolina State University
919.515.4230
lrschenkman@ncsu.edu

If you have questions about the financial aspects of the program, please contact:

Dr. David Shafer
Assistant Dean, Graduate School
North Carolina State University
919.515.4462
david_shafer@ncsu.edu

Todd Marcks
Fellowships and Grants Administrator, Graduate School
North Carolina State University
919.515.1481
tmarcks@ncsu.edu