Award Abstract # 0919304
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Advanced Bacterial Genetics Course

NSF Org: MCB
Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences
Recipient: COLD SPRING HARBOR LABORATORY
Initial Amendment Date: June 4, 2009
Latest Amendment Date: June 4, 2009
Award Number: 0919304
Award Instrument: Standard Grant
Program Manager: Karen Cone
kccone@nsf.gov
 (703)292-4967
MCB
 Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences
BIO
 Directorate for Biological Sciences
Start Date: July 1, 2009
End Date: June 30, 2014 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $466,639.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $466,639.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2009 = $466,639.00
History of Investigator:
  • Terri Grodzicker (Principal Investigator)
    grodzick@cshl.edu
  • David Stewart (Co-Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
1 BUNGTOWN RD
COLD SPG HBR
NY  US  11724-2202
(516)367-8307
Sponsor Congressional District: 03
Primary Place of Performance: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
1 BUNGTOWN RD
COLD SPG HBR
NY  US  11724-2202
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
03
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): GV31TMFLPY88
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s): Genetic Mechanisms
Primary Program Source: 01000910DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s): 1156, 9179, 9183, BIOT
Program Element Code(s): 111200
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.074

ABSTRACT

In this project, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory will continue its highly successful postgraduate laboratory short course in Advanced Bacterial Genetics. This intensive and heavily over-subscribed course has a long pedigree of advanced training in cutting-edge, modern microbial genetics, with its roots in a laboratory course started by Nobel laureate Max Delbruck in 1945. The three-week summer course prepares each participant to enter directly into research that makes use of advanced techniques and concepts in the molecular genetics of bacterial systems. Because the course experiments address real research questions, in addition to exposing students to different techniques, they provide training in experimental design, trouble-shooting and real data analysis. Daily discussion periods cover the methodology, experimental design and analysis and invited speakers introduce students to diverse areas of modern microbial research. The course stimulates interaction among new investigators with diverse backgrounds and interest and provides training towards research in modern microbiology.

Broader Impact

Training scientists in the latest techniques in bacterial genetics is important for our greater understanding of many living systems, since bacteria are omnipresent in our environment and essential to human life, at times representing significant or potential threats in terms of infectious diseases, environmental imbalance and even bioterrorism. Each year, this course trains a new generation of young scientists in state-of-the-art techniques in how to probe the inner workings of bacteria, and how to use this understanding in a variety of applications in biotechnology and agriculture. Given the relative simplicity of the bacterial cell compared to that of multicellular organisms, scientists are now attempting to model the entire system of the cell, using a combination of genetics and computer modeling to understand the fundamental operation system of these organisms. The course provides fertile ground for students and faculty to meet and discuss the intricacies of the science in a relaxed but intensive environment, which many subsequently cite as some of the most significant and formative of their scientific careers, enabling collaboration and interactions that are maintained and strengthened for years into the future.

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