Source: TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY submitted to NRP
GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS IN ANIMAL BIOTECHNOLOGY AND GENOMICS AT TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
SERD GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0203625
Grant No.
2005-38420-15793
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
2005-02537
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2005
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2010
Grant Year
2005
Program Code
[KK]- National Needs Graduate Fellowships Program
Recipient Organization
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
750 AGRONOMY RD STE 2701
COLLEGE STATION,TX 77843-0001
Performing Department
VETERINARY PATHOBIOLOGY
Non Technical Summary
One of the areas of national need targeted for advanced degree training in the U.S. is Animal, Microbial, or Plant Molecular Biology, Including Genomics and Bioinformatics. A core training faculty from the Center for Animal Biotechnology and Genomics represents one of the world's strongest research groups in the related disciplines of food animal genomics and reproductive biology. The overall goals of this training program are to recruit outstanding students, train and mentor them in world-class research laboratories within an interdisciplinary degree program, and ultimately enrich the workforce in agricultural research with scientists trained and skilled in the cutting-edge sciences of animal genomics and biotechnology.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
90360993020100%
Knowledge Area
903 - Communication, Education, and Information Delivery;

Subject Of Investigation
6099 - People and communities, general/other;

Field Of Science
3020 - Education;
Goals / Objectives
The overall goals of this training program are to recruit outstanding students, train and mentor them in world-class research laboratories within an interdisciplinary degree program, and ultimately enrich the workforce in agricultural research with scientists trained and skilled in the cutting-edge sciences of animal genomics and biotechnology. While recruiting will be nation wide, special emphasis will be placed on recruiting outstanding BS and MS students from Prairie View A&M University and Texas A&M University-Kingsville, two minority-serving institutions within the Texas A&M University System with large numbers of students from ethnic groups that are underrepresented in most PhD programs in the agricultural sciences. Goal 1: Recruitment and Selection. The first objective of this program is to recruit outstanding PhD students for training in animal biotechnology and genomics. We will recruit nationally for the best students available for training in genetics and associated reproductive biotechnologies with emphasis on animals important to US agriculture. Our efforts to locate and recruit outstanding students from underrepresented minorities will be enhanced through ongoing collaborative programs with two universities in the Texas A&M University System that have significant enrollments of African American and Hispanic students; Prairie View A&M University, an HBCU with 89% African American enrollment, and TAMU-Kingsville, an Hispanic-serving university with 66% Hispanic enrollment. Each institution is a major national producer of minority graduates in the biomedical sciences. Goal 2: Training. Our second objective is to provide a world-class training experience for these students in an interdisciplinary research program connecting animal genomics with animal reproduction and biotechnology. These students will receive a PhD in Genetics through an established curriculum with a strong emphasis in the biomedical and agricultural sciences. Goal 3: Mentoring. The third objective of the proposed NNF program is to help Fellows successfully transition from an undergraduate or M.S. degree track to a PhD track. This transition is very important to raising the rates of student retention and graduation, and can be facilitated by student interaction with faculty mentors, fellow students, and student support groups.
Project Methods
The strength of the proposed training program lies in the scientific quality and highly successful track record of graduate training achieved by members of the Core Faculty. Animal biotechnology and genomics are related disciplines identified among the strongest employment opportunities for scientists in the CSREES study on Employment Opportunities for College Graduates in the Food and Agricultural Sciences (http://faeis.usda.gov/hep/employ/ executive.htm). The Core Faculty of eleven who will serve as advisors and advisory committee members for the proposed National Needs Fellows currently maintain active funded research programs at the forefront of food animal genomics and reproductive biotechnologies. Their collective status in the respective research communities and their commitment to graduate education are unparalleled, either nationally or internationally. In addition to the grants received, papers published, and students trained, as enumerated throughout this proposal, this group includes two recipients of the prestigious Wolf Prize in Agriculture, an Alexander von Humbolt award, a membership in the National Academy of Sciences, and numerous other awards. Perhaps more importantly, their resumes are replete with publications in high impact journals in which graduate students are first author. Trainees in this program will receive their PhD degrees in Genetics through the established and highly successful interdisciplinary degree program at Texas A&M University (http://gene.tamu.edu/). The Core Faculty for this program represent the two distinct but related disciplines of Animal Genomics and Reproductive Physiology and Biotechnology. Students in this program will be required to complete three six-week laboratory rotations with Core Faculty. At least one rotation must be in a laboratory in each discipline and trainees will also be required to have a representative of each discipline on their advisory committee.

Progress 09/01/05 to 08/31/10

Outputs
This grant funded graduate fellowships in biotechnology and genomics for two graduate students at Texas A&M University. Erin Gillenwaters, a PhD student in Genetics, will receive her degree in the Spring Semester of 2011. Her work on genetics of antimicrobial peptides in cattle has demonstrated genetic variation in innate immunity which is applicable to both bacterial and viral diseases in livestock. Michael Peoples has completed the requirements for a M.S. degree in reproductive biotechnology and will enter a PhD program in the Spring Semester of 2011. His work on the regulatory role of miRNAs in cattle is being prepared for publication. PRODUCTS: Products of the project are two well trained students, one PhD and one MS, who with other funding will now enter into post-doctoral and PhD training, respectively. These students have trained at the cutting edge of biotechnology and genomics and are well-based for careers in the agricultural research work force. OUTCOMES: The desired outcomes of producing highly competent trainees was accomplished. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: none FUTURE INITIATIVES: none

Impacts
The impacts of this project are to be realized in the careers of two well-trained professionals in agricultural biotechnology and genomics.

Publications

  • Gillenwaters, E.N., Seabury, C.M., Elliott, J.S. and Womack, J.E.: Sequence analysis and polymorphism discovery in 4 members of the bovine cathelicidin gene family. J.Hered. 100:241-245, 2009.


Progress 09/01/08 to 08/31/09

Outputs
Two PhD students, Michael Peoples and Erin Gillenwaters are advancing toward their PhD degrees in areas of national need. PRODUCTS: Two outstanding graduate students are now within approximately one year of their PhD degrees in fields within the disciplines of animal biotechnology and genomics. OUTCOMES: N/A DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: N/A FUTURE INITIATIVES: None

Impacts
Two excellent students, Michael Peoples and Erin Gillenwaters will enter the work force in areas of national needs in agriculture.

Publications

  • No publications reported this period


Progress 09/01/07 to 08/31/08

Outputs
Two Ph.D. Students, Mr.Mike Peeples and Ms. Erin Gillenwaters are currently funded. The students funded have made excellent progress toward their Ph.D. degrees, both in course work and in laboratory research. PRODUCTS: No products reported OUTCOMES: The ultimate impact will be the production of two outstanding scientists in animal biotechnology and genomics. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: No dissemination activities FUTURE INITIATIVES: The goal is to complete research leading to PhD degree for 2 students

Impacts
This will bring production of two outstanding scientists in animal biotechnology and genomics.

Publications

  • No publications reported this period


Progress 09/01/06 to 08/31/07

Outputs
One Ph.D. Student, Mr.Mike Peeples is currently funded. The student funded has made excellent progress toward his Ph.D., both in his course work and in his laboratory research. PRODUCTS: One year of progress toward a Ph.D. OUTCOMES: None DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: None FUTURE INITIATIVES: Another student will be funded by the project, beginning in the Spring of 2008. Mr. Mike Peeples will continue to be funded.

Impacts
The ultimate impact will be the production of two outstanding scientists in animal biotechnology and genomics.

Publications

  • No publications reported this period


Progress 09/01/05 to 09/01/06

Outputs
One graduate student has been successfully recruited into the program. PRODUCTS: The product of this project is one graduate student enrolled in our program. OUTCOMES: A second graduate student will be recruited in the coming year. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: FUTURE INITIATIVES: We will recruit a second graduate student.

Impacts
We will train two graduate students in animal biotechnology and genomics to enter the US work force within 5 years.

Publications

  • No publications reported this period