Education

Graduate and Undergraduate Programs

·        Biotech Center faculty are responsible for a substantial number of courses serving undergraduate and graduate programs in biotechnology, molecular biology, environmental science, biochemistry, and plant science.

·        Dr. Lily Young serves as Associate Dean of Graduate Programs at Cook, coordinating 9 graduate programs that include more than 500 graduate students.

·        Dr. Tom Leustek is Director of the Plant Biology Graduate Program.  Dr. Michael Lawton coordinates the molecular biology track of that program.

·        Faculty have developed new courses in bioinformatics, nucleotide sequencing, high throughput screening, plant biology, bioremediation, science and society, and bioethics.

·        Biotech faculty provide extensive and substantive opportunities for undergraduate research internships for undergraduate Biotech and Biology majors.  A high number of George H. Cook Scholars carry out their projects at the Center every year.

Special Training Facilities

·        High Throughput Screening Facility--developed by Dr. Gerben Zylstra with support from New Jersey industry, a major grant from the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education, and University matching support.  The facility trains students in high throughput robotic technology.  Equipment and supplies for the facility were donated by several New Jersey corporations.  The facility also services the needs of small biotech companies.

·        Shared Computer Laboratory--developed by Biotech Center faculty and staff for undergraduate instruction in the sciences.  The facility is currently used for courses in the Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Animal Science, and Plant Science undergraduate curricula, as well as by the Chang Library for instruction in web resources.

Exchange Programs and Shortcourses

·        Faculty initiated a flourishing exchange program with the University of Sao Paolo, Brazil which involves active research collaboration and exchange of students with at least a dozen Brazilian scientists.  Biotech faculty also participate in an undergraduate exchange program with the University of Puerto Rico.

·        The environmental faculty presented an intensive  shortcourse in bioremediation for top American and European graduate students in June 1998,  supported by the European Union and NSF, NIH, DOE, and ONR.   The Biotech Center was chosen as the host due to its reputation for cutting-edge research, excellent teaching, and modern facilities. 

For suggestions on improving this web site, please send mail to:  biotech@njaes.rutgers.edu Last update:10/05/01