Training Leaders for 21st Century Biotechnology: Joint GWU-MSU

Educational Program

• Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University

• Department of Molecular Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University

GWU MSU

Strengths and Weaknesses of Biology Education at GWU and MSU

GWU

Strengths Weaknesses

Comprehensive Insufficient emphasislecture courses: on teaching studentscell and molecular how to solve technicalbiology; suborga- problems innismal and experimental workorganismal biology;ecology and evolution

MSU

Strengths Weaknesses

A 5-year program Lack of sufficient with early instruction on dataspecialization; presentation,detailed and manuscript andelaborate lecture grant preparationand laboratorycourses; focus onbasic principles ofexperimental approaches

Goals of the Program

• To provide students and faculty at MSU and GWU with an opportunity to visit the partner institution to improve language skills, learn about educational and research approaches, participate in seminars and research activities

• To develop a method to reduce identified deficiencies in biotechnology education and preparation of students as independent researchers in US and Russian universities

• To test this method on a limited number of GWU and MSU students participating in this Program

Activities in 2009-2010

1. Three MSU undergraduate students visited GWU

2. Dr. Bukrinsky visited MSU: meeting students, describing the program and opportunities

3. Drs. Bukrinsky and Silver to participate in the Program Directors Meeting at in Moscow (June 2010).

4. Two GWU undergraduate students to visit MSU for 2 weeks this July: language course and biotechnology practicum