About the Program
About Us
The Molecular Biophysics Training Program is funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) of the National Institutes of Health (5T32 GM008382). The program serves as a hub for all research and training activities in biophysics at Northwestern. Please contact us if you have any questions about the program.
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NIH Training Grant
NIGMS supports biomedical and behavioral research training programs that help provide the most critical element of good research: well-prepared scientists. Institutional and individual training, fellowship, and career development grants fund graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, clinician scientists, and scientists transitioning to independence. Programs cover basic biomedical research areas, some clinically related areas, and training at the interfaces of different fields. Learn more at the NIGMS site.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Molecular Biophysics Training Program at Northwestern University is committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion within our program. We firmly believe a diverse and inclusive learning environment is essential for the personal and professional growth of our trainees, helping them to better understand more complex issues and cultivate broader perspectives. Research shows that diverse teams infused with innovative ideas and distinct perspectives and are more adept at addressing complex scientific questions1. Our commitment to DEI extends to all aspects of our program, including recruitment, admissions, curriculum, teaching methods and the overall trainee experience.
- Diversity: We recognize that diversity includes a broad array of differences in background, identity, perspectives, skills and experiences. Our goal is to build a diverse community that results in a broader scope of research questions, more innovative solutions, and a research program more relevant and impactful to a global audience. As a training program, we actively seek to recruit trainees from diverse backgrounds, including those from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, socioeconomic backgrounds, gender identities, sexual orientations, disabilities, and other dimensions of diversity.
- Equity: We are committed to providing an equitable educational experience where practices and policies that are just, transparent, and consistent. We strive to remove systemic barriers that may disproportionately affect marginalized groups and actively work to ensure that all trainees have equitable access to resources, opportunities and support.
- Inclusion: We aim to create a welcoming and supportive environment where every trainee feels valued and has a sense of belonging, an environment that actively welcomes, connects, and values each member, while harming none. Our program seeks to create a space where all trainees can learn from each other and contribute to a more inclusive and enriching academic community.
We continue to strive towards a more equitable and inclusive environment by providing ongoing training opportunities for our trainees and preceptors. Our commitment to DEI also means that these policies will evolve as we regularly assess how the curriculum, policies and practices of the training program align with our DEI objectives and the evolving needs of our trainees.
As members of the Northwestern community, all trainees and preceptors adhere to the guidelines put forth by The Graduate School. To learn more about how the Graduate school supports diversity equity and inclusion at Northwestern for all students please go to https://www.tgs.northwestern.edu/diversity/ .
- Talia H Swartz, Ann-Gel S Palermo, Sandra K Masur, Judith A Aberg, The Science and Value of Diversity: Closing the Gaps in Our Understanding of Inclusion and Diversity, The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 220, Issue Supplement_2, 15 September 2019, Pages S33–S41, https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiz174