BANTech

BANTech is an interdisciplinary program that integrates nanomaterials research with cell biology and bioscience research (i.e., bionanoscience) at the University of Idaho.

This program draws researchers and students from the Colleges of Science, Agricultural and Life Sciences, Engineering, and Business.

It focuses on research in the areas of infectious disease, gene therapy, and biosensors built upon the platform of nanomaterials. New interdisciplinary graduate courses will be developed that will allow the researchers to train graduate students in several science disciplines. The outcome will be a research-driven, interdisciplinary graduate degree program. Furthermore, the program will work to develop intellectual property and potential startup companies based on the three research foci. This initiative will facilitate the growth of the university into research and education that will be in high demand over the next decade and beyond. The goals of this program are summarized as follows:

1. Develop interdisciplinary research teams that incorporate nanomaterials and cell biology into cohesive research teams.
2. Develop a multidisciplinary graduate education program that promotes diversity.
3. Provide training to a new generation of scientists with specialized skills that will be in demand.
4. Establish the University of Idaho as a major player in the emerging field of bionanoscience.
5. Provide outreach to the community to educate them about bionanoscience that will affect all of our lives in the not too distant future.
6. Establish a self-sustaining program that will grow to include all of the relevant researchers in the university.
7. Develop entrepreneurial spin-offs of the intellectual property developed by the research teams.

The Bionanoscience Program has true potential to realign the university such that it becomes competitive in an emerging field. The President’s investment in the Bionanoscience Program now will propel research at Idaho into an emerging field of the 21st century, while supporting excellence in the Strategic Themes and creating opportunity to improve education and outreach.