Program Overview

Overview:


The Chemistry-Biology Interface Program is an interdisciplinary program supported by the National Institute of Health (NIH) with additional support from UCLA Graduate Division, UCLA Medical School, the Division of UCLA Physical Sciences, the Division of UCLA Life Sciences, and UCLA Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. This program is available to all PhD students who have completed their first year of their graduate program. Typically, our students come from such diverse majors such as Chemistry and Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Bioinformatics, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, Public Health and Physiology. All students interested in the interface between chemistry and biology are welcome to apply.

Program Benefits

  • Funding for 3 years, including Tuition and Fees and Stipends

  • Interdisciplinary Faculty Mentors Across Participating Departments (Biological Chemistry, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Pathology, Microbiology and more)

  • Summer Internship Opportunity

  • Retreats and Colloquia Participation

  • Yearly travel allowance

  • Career Development

  • Outreach Opportunities

  • Network Opportunities

Our program exposes students to a more diverse, rich array of inter-related subjects within the Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Medical, and Biological Sciences.

Research Interests

 
What is the interface of Chemistry and Biology?

 

The use of molecular chemistry in the solving of biological problems is a niche which allows scientists to investigate cellular diseases, such as cancer, immune diseases, genetic diseases, epigenetics, microbiota, and more, at the level of molecular manipulation. Previous grantees have used CBI support to fund research on protein synthesis, molecular imaging, and computational methods of analyzing protein structures. The grant's focus is intentionally both broad and directed, as the study of biology at the molecular level is applicable to a range of problems, especially in the healthcare field. With the support of generous NIH funding, CBI research at UCLA has expanded the fields of rare disease study, cancer research, aging, and the delivery and efficacy of pharmaceutical drugs. 

 

Program Goals

  • Train graduate students in the language and techniques of research at the interface of chemistry and biology. Specifically, chemists will learn to be able to critically evaluate papers, be familiar with techniques and be able to rigorously discuss research topics in biology, and vice versa.
  • Teach students the background to understand both the fundamentals and cutting edge research at the chemistry biology interface to enable them to distill this information in order to independently apply it to their own research and to develop new ideas.
  • Enable students to hone their speaking skills and to work effectively in teams, especially with people in biology for chemists and vice versa.
  • Instruct students about ethical and responsible conduct of research so that they follow the ethical principals in their own research and hold these standards to others
  • Educate students on the fundamentals of rigor and reproducibility in order to apply this to their own research and enable identification and interpretation of these factors in the work of others
  • Empower students to develop to their full potential professionally, providing them with all the tools necessary to make informed and successful career trajectory decisions
  • Deliver additional mentoring and oversight on each trainee to retain and enable them to graduate within the average time period for graduate students at UCLA
  • Provide an inclusive, supportive and diverse environment with approximately equal numbers of chemically and biologically oriented students, equal numbers of males and females, and 30% persons from underrepresented groups, as well as individuals with disabilities that have a strong identity as the UCLA CBI both as trainees and as alumni.

Eligibility

Graduate students in research at the interface of chemistry and biology may apply after their first year and must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident. Non-permanent residents may apply as an Associate.

Diversity

The CBI Program is strongly committed to promoting equity, inclusion, and diversity. All are welcome to apply regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, religion, disability, veteran status, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation. We have and promote a safe, inclusive, supportive, and equitable learning environment.