ABSTRACT A new Molecular Bioengineering Ph.D. program has been established. This program provides training at the interface between the physical and engineering sciences, and the bimolecular sciences. Trainees will be uniquely able to contribute to: a) to apply engineering principles to the development of new methods for the study of bimolecular systems including the human genome; and b) to create new engineering technologies based on bimolecules, molecular assemblies, and bimolecular processes. Support from the University and the Whitaker Foundation have been combined with pre-existing faculty strength to launch this program in the Center for Bioengineering. Four new faculty with expertise in areas of molecular science have been recruited. In addition, a new department of Molecular Biotechnology, with a core group of investigators from Cal Tech, is being established. The Molecular Bioengineering faculty has thus grown from 5 to 13. It is proposed that the current Molecular Bioengineering student population of 15 be expanded to 40, using traineeships to support 21. Given the importance of this emerging area, and Molecular Bioengineering's demonstrated ability to attract highly qualified students (35% of whom are women), it is expected that graduates of the Molecular Bioengineering Program will become leaders in both academic and industry.
