Specifics of the CBI Program

Illinois’ CBI training program has been carefully planned in consultation with the faculty and administrators who oversee the graduate programs in the School of Chemical Sciences and the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology in order to enhance each trainee’s doctoral studies without appreciably lengthening the time-to-degree in their home department.

Sample curricula for students in Biochemistry, Microbiology, Chemistry, and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.

Year 1

• During Fall semester students rotate through a minimum of three laboratories including one rotation outside their home department
• CBI-trainees enroll in the two CBI-specific courses during their first and second semesters: the Chemical Biology Tutorial and the Techniques in Chemical Biology lab course. (These courses may count as electives towards the requirements in their home departments.)
• CBI-trainees complete NIH-required ethics training during their second semester via a 7 week evening course.
• Students are supported by a variety of departmental or University mechanisms including teaching and research assistantships or fellowships.

Years 2 and 3

• Trainees attend the weekly CBI Seminar Series and have the opportunity to invite, host and discuss their research with outside seminar speakers
• Students assist with organizing the CBI Annual Symposium
• Trainees complete CBI General Coursework (described below)
• Trainees progress towards independence as they perform research in a CBI faculty lab.
• CBI fellows receive training program stipends.

Years 4 and 5

• Trainees continue to participate in the CBI Seminar Series and Annual Symposium
• They present a seminar in the CBI Series during Year 4
• Trainees complete their graduate research
• Students will receive stipends commensurate with those provided to students in their home doctoral program.

Additional Requirements

• CBI General Coursework consists of three elective courses chosen from among an extensive list of offerings. Chemistry and Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering students take one course from a list of Molecular and Cellular Biology offerings; students in the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology take one course from offerings in the School of Chemical Sciences. These courses, when selected appropriately, should help fulfill departmental course requirements.
• All students (Year 1 through thesis defense) meet as a group once a month with the Program Director; two students will present their research progress at these meetings.