GVSU Professional Science Master's Newsletter
Issue No. 1

February 2011

In this issue:

• Update from the Coordinator
• New PSM Degree
• Alumni Spotlight
• New Courses
• PSM Information

Numbers to Crunch

Students:

• Bioinformatics: 17
• Biostatistics: 30
• Biotechnology: 31

Alumni:

• Bioinformatics: 17
• Biostatistics: 25
• Biotechnology: 21

 Internship Companies: 27

Contacts:

Update from the Coordinator

     Welcome to the inaugural issue of the GVSU Professional Science Masters (PSM) degree Newsletter.  I’m Dave Elrod, the Coordinator of our three PSM programs: MS in Biostatistics, MS in Cell & Molecular Biotechnology and MS in Medical and Bioinformatics.  I’ve been at GVSU since 2004 after a long career in pharmaceutical drug discovery research.  I’m excited about the PSM programs because they focus on the kinds of workplace skills that we looked for in applicants in pharmaceutical research and are prized in so many other fields as well.  PSM graduates have also demonstrated their added value in hospitals, large and small companies, CRO’s and in both independent and medical center research institutes.


     PSM degrees are still relatively unknown but they will become more widely recognized since the state-wide adoption of PSM programs by the State University of New York (SUNY) system and by the California State University system.  More information about our PSM programs is at the end of this newsletter.


     We currently have 76 students enrolled in the three PSM programs and there are 63 graduates who have completed their masters degree in one of our PSM programs.  A breakdown by degree program is in the sidebar.


     In this issue we highlight one of our alumni, describe a new professional science masters program and list some of the new courses being developed. We intend to issue a newsletter at least once every semester to keep you informed about our program, our students, faculty and our alumni.  Check out our new Facebook Page. We welcome any suggestions of topics for the next newsletter.

New PSM Degree in Biomedical Engineering

    The National Science Foundation awarded a grant to GVSU's School of Engineering to start a new MSE degree in Biomedical Engineering.  This new degree will be similar in design and philosophy to the three existing PSM programs and is in the later stages of the approval process at GVSU.  This fall 8 students started taking classes towards the new MSE degree in anticipation of it's approval. The Biomedical Engineering students will take the same PSM 650 Ethics and Professionalism class as the other PSM students, and it is anticipated that PSM students may be interested in some of the new courses being developed for the MSE degree.  Contact Dr. Samhita Rhodes (rhodesam@gvsu.edu) or Dr. John Farris (farrisj@gvsu.edu) for more information.

Alumni Spotlight

    Our Alumni Spotlight this issue is on Naveen Kamireddi who completed the Cell & Molecular (CMB) Biotechnology PSM program in April 2010.  Naveen's somewhat unconventional path through the CMB Biotechnology PSM program shows how these programs benefit both the students and their future employers.


    Naveen is an international student from India who came to GV because of the interdisciplinary nature of the PSM program.  He also liked the focus on practical skills and the link between the PSM programs and employers.  Typically CMB Biotechnology students do their internships in laboratory settings, but Naveen's interest was more in the business aspects of biotechnology.


    Instead of a laboratory internship, Naveen’s internship was in the Van Andel Institute’s Business Development and Technology Transfer Office, where he worked on the analysis of new technologies to in-license or out-license under the mentorship of Dr. Brent Mulder.  The team leadership, communication and interdisciplinary thinking that Naveen experienced in his course work were valuable to him in his internship.  The internship gave him practical experience in technology transfer that allowed Naveen to put his biotechnology knowledge to good use.

    Naveen said “Without the internship I would not have the job that I currently hold. The contacts developed during the internship helped me land in my first ‘Real’ job”. He is currently employed at the Grand Rapids startup company, Intervention Insights, where he is helping develop an advisory tool to help oncologists find the best drugs to treat each particular patient if the first-line drugs fail.

    New Courses

    Ever thought about brushing up or adding to your skills set?  If you aren't a current student, all you need to do is apply as a non-degree seeking student at Grand Valley to sign up for and take a class or two.  This Winter 2011 we have the following special interests courses.  Check out the course catalog, which is posted online, for a more thorough listing of other courses offered this winter.  If there is sufficient interest, these courses may be offered every year.

STA 580 – Statistical Computing with R

Instructor: David Zeitler

Location: MAK BLL118 / A1121

Time: 4:30 – 5:45 pm Mondays and Wednesdays

CMB 680 – Advanced Computational Biology

Instructor: Agnieszka Szarecka

Location:  CHS 142

Time: 6:00 – 8:50 pm Monday

We will review the ways in which computers and computational models are used to study biomolecules: their structures, function and interactions. The class will include lecture, literature discussion and hands-on experience with molecular modeling tools.

Rationale:

    Computational approach has become a powerful and recognized partner of experimental structural biology in the process of elucidating both structures and functions of biomolecules. Problems, such as protein folding into their unique 3D structures, designing new therapeutics based on their binding to protein targets or simulating behavior and function of biomolecules, are now extensively studied using computers.

This course introduces the students to the key concepts and methods developed by computational biology to study the relationship between structure and function of biomolecules.

Course Objectives:

    We will cover the computational methods of:  predicting protein 3D structure (such as homology modeling); predicting and simulating biomolecular function (enzymatic reactions, functional motions, molecular recognition); discovering new drugs and engineering new biomolecules.

What are GVSU’s Professional Science Masters Programs?

    Grand Valley State University offers three innovative Professional Science Masters (PSM) M.S. degree programs designed to prepare professionals to work outside academia. In addition to building core disciplinary expertise, PSM degree programs provide practical training in an emerging or interdisciplinary area, industry internships instead of a research thesis, and cross-training in team leadership, business fundamentals and communication skills. More information about PSM degrees can be found at http://www.sciencemasters.com

    The PSM programs are housed mainly on GVSU’s Grand Rapids campus, in the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences building which features cutting-edge training and laboratory facilities on Health Hill in the midst of Grand Rapids' Medical Mile.  One of the unique advantages of GVSU’s three related PSM programs is that students in all three programs take an introductory course in each of the disciplines, and work on projects with students from the other programs, giving them a realistic simulation of real-world team projects in the working world.

GV’s three programs are
     M.S. in Medical and Bioinformatics:  the application of computer informatics technology to manage and analyze information in the life and health sciences.  The program is offered in the School of Computing and Information Systems and focuses on data mining and data management.  Dr. Paul Leidig is Program Director (leidigp@gvsu.edu).

    M.S. in Cell & Molecular Biotechnology:  the application of cell and molecular biology for medical, agricultural and industrial purposes.  This program is located near the WMSTI biotechnology business incubator in GVSU’s Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences.  Dr. Mark Staves is Program Director (stavesm@gvsu.edu).

    M.S. in Biostatistics:  the development and application of statistical methods for the biological and health sciences. The program includes: study design, data management, data analysis, consulting, statistical training, and the application of statistical software.  Dr. Robert Downer is Program Director (downerr@gvsu.edu).

Editor: Augusta Lloyd