Practical & problem-centric approaches for developing PhD training in quantitative Biosciences

Joshua Weitz
Biological Sciences
Georgia Tech
When good theory is not good enough: practical and problem-centric approaches for developing PhD training programs in quantitative Biosciences
NIMBioS/SCMB Investigative Workshop
www.nimbios.org/workshops/WS_q...
Topic: Quantitative Education in Life Science Graduate Programs
Meeting dates: December 1-3, 2020 from noon to 5 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time)
Organizers:
Stefano Allesina, Ecology & Evolution and Computation Institute, Univ. of Chicago
Louis Gross, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and Mathematics, Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville
Christine Heitsch, Mathematics, Biological Sciences and Computational Science and Engineering, Georgia Tech
Mariel Vazquez, Mathematics and Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, Univ. of California, Davis
Support and Partners: This workshop was supported by funding from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, from the National Science Foundation support for NIMBioS, with additional support from the University of Tennessee. The Workshop arose from a partnership between NIMBioS and the Southeast Center for Mathematics and Biology (SCMB).
Objectives: This workshop brought together a diverse group of researchers and educators working at the interface of various areas of the life sciences and quantitative science (e.g. mathematics, statistics, computing, data science). There has been very little open discussion about educational aspects of graduate life science quantitative training, such as what topics to prioritize across the vast array of potential quantitative methods, how formal courses might be effectively mixed with online learning, seminars and lab group activities and the effectiveness of boot-camps and tutorials. While many meetings, conferences and projects have focused on undergraduate education at this interface between the life sciences and quantitative methods, there has been nothing similar for graduate education.
The intent of the workshop was to gather thought leaders on graduate life science education and its relation to quantitative training to determine commonalities of approaches across institutions and consider what evidence is available on the effectiveness of these approaches. The expectation was that this would provide potential guidance based on experiences at diverse institutions and in biological sub-disciplines about what has been tried, how effective the results have been, and what still needs to be examined. Attendees shared experiences and any evaluation data regarding the programs they have been involved with. The workshop gathered advice from those with extensive experience in educating not only the few students specializing in quantitative biology, but also with the broad range of life science graduate students. Applications were welcomed from those at any career stage, including recent PhDs and current graduate students.