PROTEOMICS INSTRUMENTATION MEETS EDUCATION (PRIME) AT NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY

Proteomics is a field of study capable of studying complex mixtures of proteins from plants, animals or microbes allowing the expansion of our knowledge of concepts ranging from normal physiological to disease processes. This field is having an impact on agricultural and food sciences by revolutionizing the manner in which researchers approach scientific questions. It is critical to ensure that minority students are effectively trained in this cutting edge discipline. The goal of this proposal is to establish a proteomics laboratory and provide hands-on training opportunities for students, staff, and faculty at North Carolina A&T State University. The teaching capabilities of NC A&T will be greatly enhanced by having the infrastructure, expertise and techniques in place to properly train a new generation of individuals that will be competitive nationally and globally. By offering proteomics training opportunities for students, this project will diversify the workforce by equipping minority students with experience in a premier field of research. This initiative will impact the food and agricultural sciences higher education system by training minority students in proteomics and making them more competitive for employment opportunities. The training of technical staff and faculty will build a stable, critical mass of expertise which will ensure long-term proteomics capacity for the university; thus providing a foundation for continued proteomics training at NC A&T.