Quantitative Biological Systems Training Program

In 2019, the NYU Department of Biology was awarded a National Institutes of Health T32 Training grant award. The program funds 4 trainees per year.

The mission of the Quantitative Biological Systems Training (QBIST) program is to empower biomedical researchers to choose confidently amongst a diversity of careers in the biomedical research enterprise through active training and experience in robust and transferable quantitative and leadership skills.

The QBIST program will pursue 3 primary objectives:

• To enable trainees to develop and apply advanced computational and data science skills to complex biomedical research questions.

  The QBIST curriculum builds on the strengths in quantitative courses offered within the NYU Biology PhD program by increasing cohesion and continuity between courses and expanding training to include formal instruction in Data Science.
  

• To cultivate trainee skills in mentorship and leadership and provide opportunities for experiential learning through mentorship activities that promote an inclusive environment within the biomedical research enterprise.

  Trainees will apply and solidify newly acquired skills by adopting active leadership and mentoring roles in NYU’s diversity training initiatives.

• To enable trainees to actively explore and pursue biomedical career paths outside the traditional academic trajectory.

  QBIST trainees will actively explore post-graduate career options through a structured internship program with non-academic organizations including science communication, non-academic research and business and entrepreneurship.

We will achieve these objectives through 4 key activities:

• The QBIST Workshop 
• An integrated quantitative curriculum to equip trainees with broadly applicable skills in quantitative biology and data science. 
• Experiential learning in mentorship through trainee participation as mentors of junior researchers.
• A formal internship program to enable real-world learning in careers within the broader biomedical enterprise.