The Genetics Predoctoral Training Program (GPTP) is an inter-departmental training program that includes faculty and their students from across UGA who focus on genetics research. The GPTP is supported by an NIH T32 Genetics Training Grant. The GPTP brings together the genetics community at UGA, and the NIH T32 training grant provides students from across campus with training in genetics and opportunities for career development. The NIH T32 funds also support the Genetics seminar series, which brings outstanding scientists to campus to present their research and interact with faculty and student researchers in our community. The Genetics Predoctoral Training Program is committed to creating a training environment where all members of our community feel welcome and supported. The GPTP follows the same Principles of Community as the UGA Genetics Department. The GPTP is Directed by Dr. Kelly Dyer (Genetics) and Dr. Mary Goll (Genetics). Administrative support is provided by Ms. Susan White (Genetics). Current and former trainees explored their artistic side as part of the 2024 Trainee Retreat Student Traineeships: The NIH T32 Genetics Training Grant currently funds stipends for eight Ph.D. students, and the university funds stipends for four additional Ph.D. students. In addition, each trainee receives $700 to use for travel and supplies. Ph.D. students in a trainer’s lab from any graduate program and whose research includes a substantial genetics component are encouraged to apply for a traineeship. Applications for an NIH T32 traineeship are due in the Spring of each year. The deadline for 2026 is March 17th at 5 pm. The application requires that the student write a brief statement of interest and submit this with their CV to Susan White by the deadline. The application instructions and an example CV can be found here. Traineeships are awarded for one year, and may be renewed for a second year. Please contact Susan White with questions concerning the application process. Trainees are selected by the Genetics Training Grant Committee. Applicant prerequisites: Student must be a US citizen or permanent resident of the US. Student must be in good standing at the University of Georgia, i.e., not on academic probation. Student must be on track with respect to deadlines, especially committee meetings and timing of written and oral exams (Departmental Graduate Affairs Committees may extend deadlines upon student petition). Student must be currently enrolled as a PhD graduate student, performing genetics research in a trainer’s lab. See the list of faculty trainers here. Student must currently be in years 1 or 2 of their PhD program. Student must be willing to commit to all the training requirements of the training program. Student’s advisor must commit to taking mentor training if they have not already done so. Training requirements: The GPTP curriculum helps trainees gain both broad and specialized genetics knowledge and quantitative skills within a generally flexible framework. The GPTP curriculum includes core courses, electives, and skills development opportunities, and is intended to interface and synergize with the student's departmental curricula to enhance training in genetics. Students supported by the training grant are required to: 1. Complete the required coursework, including: GENE 8100, Foundations of Genetic Analysis (4 credits) GENE 8300, Introduction to Scientific Research Writing (1 credit) GENE 8620, Rigor and Reproducibility in Genetics Research (1 credit) GENE 8880, Research Communication (1 credit), taken all semesters while supported by the training grant Three credit hours of genetics electives, chosen from this list of courses, if appointed to a second year of training grant support Three credit hours of quantitative training, chosen from this list of courses 2. Attend the weekly Genetics Seminar Series (GENE 8060, Wednesdays at 4 pm). 3. Attend breakfasts with the Genetics Seminar Series speakers (~8-10/year, usually 8-9:15 am on Wednesdays). 4. Participate in GPTP-related community events (1-3/year). 5. Complete an Annual Progress Report each year through graduation. 6. Maintain an Individual Development Plan through graduation. Members of 2024-2025 trainee cohort at the trainee retreat. The current NIH trainees for the 2024-2025 year are: Jazmine Dent, Roberts-Galbraith Lab, Neuroscience Tara Disanayaka, Clark Lab, Genetics Jenny McCann, White Lab, Genetics Alexandra Morales, Burke Lab, Entomology Elise Nanista, Rozario Lab, Genetics Anne Pavia, Buell Lab, Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics Dilani Rajapakse, Goll Lab, Genetics Claire Reichardt, B. Billmyre Lab, Microbiology Cameron Seitz, Dyer and K. Billmyre Labs, Genetics Taylor Smith, Ellison Lab, Microbiology Alex Tadros, Schmitz Lab, Genetics Lu Wang, Ye Lab, Genetics Click here for a list of T32 trainees from previous years. Current and former trainees try out goat yoga as a team-building exercise. Training Program Alumni: Genetics training at the University of Georgia has been supported by an NIH training grant since 1975, and our training program has produced generations of geneticists who are now leaders in the biomedical workforce. We encourage students to explore career options, and we aim to help students gain the skills and networking opportunities needed to access their chosen positions. Recent trainees have completed internships at Eli Lilly, Pairwise, and the UGA Innovation Gateway. Nearly all (98%) of our graduates remain in the biomedical workforce and are in diverse careers in academia, government, and industry. Job placement of the 67 T32 Trainees who graduated between 2010 and 2025: Careers of T32 trainees who graduated between 2010-2025. ‘Non-research scientific’ includes business, consulting, and clinical scientist positions. The Genetics Training Grant Committee currently consists of: Dr. Kelly Dyer (co-Director), Genetics Dr. Mary Goll (co-Director), Genetics Dr. Diana Downs (advisory co-Director), Microbiology Dr. Blake Billmyre, Genetics and Infectious Diseases Dr. Gaelen Burke, Entomology Dr. Courtney Ellison, Microbiology Dr. Rachel Roberts-Galbraith, Cellular Biology Dr. Bob Schmitz, Genetics Dr. Walter Schmidt, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Trainers: There are currently 43 faculty trainers in the Genetics Predoctoral Training Program. Faculty trainers have a strong commitment to student success, and are committed to maintaining a safe and supportive training environment. See the list of faculty trainers here. Trainers span the diversity of genetics: The field of genetics at UGA includes medical and developmental genetics, molecular genetics, genomics, and quantitative and population genetics, and involves research at scales ranging from single genes, to gene networks, and to genomes. The GPTP provides students with access to diverse trainers who are leaders in research across the spectrum of modern genetic approaches and models. Trainer expertise spans the diversity of genetic subdisciplines and systems. Each trainer is included once in this figure based on their primary research focus. Trainers and their students interact and collaborate: Faculty trainers and members of their research groups interact and collaborate with each other. More than 80% of trainers have collaborated with another trainer. Most GPTP trainer’s laboratories participate in field-specific inter-departmental research communities at UGA, and almost half participate in more than one community. The six major campus communities that GPTP trainers and their laboratories participate in include the Center for Tropical & Emerging Global Diseases, Developmental Biology Alliance, Enthusiasts of Diversity, Genetics, and Evolution (EDGE), Epigenetics & Chromatin, Fungal Group, Plant Functional Genomics, and Prokaryotic Genetics. Active and recent collaborations, grants, and publications among trainers. Each color on the outside of the circle indicates a different primary scientific inter-departmental communityand the trainers involved in each. Who to Contact: If you have questions about the Genetics Predoctoral Training Program or are interested in becoming a faculty trainer, please contact Dr. Kelly Dyer. The University of Georgia, and its many units, are committed to increasing the diversity of its faculty and students, and sustaining a work and learning environment that is inclusive. Women, minorities and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action institution.
