New Framework of Competencies Can Help Train Tomorrow’s Microbiome Engineers
Outcome/Accomplishment
A competency framework—the first in its field—was established for microbiome engineering in built environments through work at the National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded Precision Microbiome Engineering (NSF PreMiEr), an Engineering Research Center (ERC) based at Duke University.
Impact/Benefits
The framework enables the training of next-generation microbiome engineers and aims to overcome the lack of graduate‑level training in microbiome engineering in built environments.
Explanation/Background
Engineering of built-environment microbiomes is an evolving field that has gained increased attention with the recognition of how those microbiomes affect human health. Lack of tools to understand how microbial systems operate in built environments has impeded the assessment of built-environment health and how leveraging microbiomes can improve the health of building environments.
The Center’s framework recognizes that microbiome engineers must integrate knowledge of microbial ecology, synthetic biology, genetics, bioinformatics, statistics, machine learning and related societal, ethical, and policy implications. Since many graduate training programs in U.S. universities are siloed, centers such as NSF PreMiEr provide unique opportunities for transdisciplinary training, immersive research, development of entrepreneurial skills, and interaction with industry partners.
To that end, the framework is integrated across Center programs through embedding in workshops and courses, industry training, and hands-on learning in the Center’s testbeds.
Location
Durham, North CarolinaStart Year
Biotechnology and Healthcare
Biotechnology and Healthcare
Lead Institution
Core Partners
Fact Sheet
Outcome/Accomplishment
A competency framework—the first in its field—was established for microbiome engineering in built environments through work at the National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded Precision Microbiome Engineering (NSF PreMiEr), an Engineering Research Center (ERC) based at Duke University.
Location
Durham, North CarolinaStart Year
Biotechnology and Healthcare
Biotechnology and Healthcare
Lead Institution
Core Partners
Fact Sheet
Impact/benefits
The framework enables the training of next-generation microbiome engineers and aims to overcome the lack of graduate‑level training in microbiome engineering in built environments.
Explanation/Background
Engineering of built-environment microbiomes is an evolving field that has gained increased attention with the recognition of how those microbiomes affect human health. Lack of tools to understand how microbial systems operate in built environments has impeded the assessment of built-environment health and how leveraging microbiomes can improve the health of building environments.
The Center’s framework recognizes that microbiome engineers must integrate knowledge of microbial ecology, synthetic biology, genetics, bioinformatics, statistics, machine learning and related societal, ethical, and policy implications. Since many graduate training programs in U.S. universities are siloed, centers such as NSF PreMiEr provide unique opportunities for transdisciplinary training, immersive research, development of entrepreneurial skills, and interaction with industry partners.
To that end, the framework is integrated across Center programs through embedding in workshops and courses, industry training, and hands-on learning in the Center’s testbeds.