[Construction and practice of a talent training model for synthetic biology]

Synthetic biotechnology is a key driver of green biomanufacturing and a strategic pillar for China in leading the new scientific revolution and gaining a competitive edge in cutting-edge technologies. The training of talents in synthetic biology aligns with higher education's mission to empower the development of new quality productive forces. This paper studied the distinctive characteristics of synthetic biology, including its strong interdisciplinary nature, high demand for engineering practice, and deep integration of digital and intelligent teaching methodologies. From a top-level design standpoint for the talent training, this paper summarized the innovative measures adopted by Jiangnan University in reforming its synthetic biology program and talent training model. After continuous exploration, the university has developed a curriculum module characterized by interdisciplinary integration, established a systematic engineering practice education system encompassing cognitive construction, competency advancement, and character development, and developed a digital platform to construct an intelligent ecosystem for education through science technology innovation competition. The resulting interdisciplinary, engineering-oriented, digitally-intelligent-driven training paradigm, along with the reform initiatives in areas such as training programs, curriculum systems, teaching models, practical training, and project competition, can serve as a reference for the development of related programs in other peer institutions, contributing to the training of innovative talents in synthetic biology.