BU Graduate Training Program in Biological Feedback Control
CMTM is proud to be a part of BU’s newest graduate training program, “Biological Feedback Control.”
Funded by the National Science Foundation, this exciting new program will form an interdisciplinary community of students and faculty that combines the study of the engineering principles of feedback control with investigations on how biological systems self-regulate, adapt, heal, and evolve. This program is open to all PhD students in engineering, natural sciences, physical sciences, health sciences, and data science. See the slideshow and FAQs below for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
I’m interested! How do I apply to the program? Applications from 1st-year PhD students seeking to join our Fall 2024 cohort will open in March 2024 and will be due in April. Prospective applicants must enroll in the course “Introduction to Biological Feedback Control” (see below) in Spring 2024.
Do I have to be a US citizen to apply to the program? No. However, stipends from the NRT grant are available only to US citizens, US nationals, and permanent residents, per NSF rules.
Do I have to pursue a PhD to participate in this program? Yes, you have to be a PhD student to participate in the full program. However, MS, BA, and BS students can participate in many of the program activities (coursework, workshops, symposia, journal clubs).
Does the program provide financial support? Approx. 6 applicants per year will receive 12 months of stipend from the NSF grant. BUT, even students not receiving stipends from this grant can be full-fledged members of the program and participate in all of the program activities.
What are the program requirements? (a) 2 required courses; (b) two NRT electives; (c) a ~1-week bootcamp each August; (c) summer internship; (d) participation in the annual symposium, workshops, journal clubs, and various professional development and community-building activities.
Can you tell me more about the internships? Each student will complete a 12- to 14-week internship in the summer after their 2nd year in their PhD program. Internships will be in a broad range of professional fields, including industry (biotech, medtech, robotics), scientific communication and editorial work, science policy, and STEM education and outreach. An information session on internships will be held during the prior summer.
Where can I find even more information? Please contact Gwendolyn Reese at gdreese@bu.edu.