Training Program in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism

TRAINING SYNOPSIS

Introduction: This postdoctoral training program in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism is funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) through the NRSA/T32 mechanism. Due to the importance of metabolic diseases across disciplines, this training program is interdisciplinary by nature and includes mentors from a variety of departments throughout the University of Pittsburgh. The training program features outstanding research opportunities with exceptional training faculty, a wide-variety of didactic and educational experiences, individualized career development plans, and continuous progress oversight to ensure on-going success.

Eligibility: Applicants must have an M.D. or Ph.D. or comparable doctoral degree from an accredited domestic or foreign institution, be less than seven years from their terminal degree, be a US citizen or permanent resident, and have a strong commitment to academic research in the field of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism.

Core mission: The core mission of this training program is to train the next generation of scientists and academic leaders in the field of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism by performing cutting edge multidisciplinary and translational research. To achieve this goal, we provide a truly outstanding multifaceted research training program comprised of the following key elements:

Research opportunities: Each trainee will be expected to complete at least one major research project during the training program. These projects may include basic, clinical, and/or epidemiological research with an emphasis on cross-disciplinary translational research. Ideally, the project will provide the basis for subsequent NIH grant applications such as an F32 or K series career development award. Each Fellow is also expected to publish a minimum of 2-3 peer-reviewed papers (with at least one as first author) within the training period.

Training faculty: Each trainee will be expected to assemble a mentoring team consisting of a primary mentor and at least two additional research mentors that have complementary expertise. We strongly recommend that primary mentors be selected from our diverse set of outstanding Training Faculty. Additional mentors may be any committed, highly-skilled, appropriately-trained mentor that is both willing and able to make a unique contribution to the trainee’s research project and/or career development (pending approval by the training committee).

Didactic courses and educational opportunities: In addition to attending seminars and journal clubs relevant to the field of endocrinology, each trainee will be expected to participate in one or more of a wide variety of didactic courses, workshops, and educational experiences to supplement his/her research project and career development. These opportunities include, but are not limited to, programs offered by the Institute for Clinical Research and Education and/or Office of Academic Career Development. Interested trainees may also consider pursuing one of our Masters or Certificate Programs. Additional research resources are available through the University of Pittsburgh’s Clinical Translational Science Institute.

Structured career development courses: In addition to the above educational opportunities, trainees will also be expected to participate in a core curriculum designed to impart fundamental research “survival” skills such as project management, grant writing, and the responsible conduct of research.

Individualized career development plan: Each trainee, in collaboration with his/her primary research mentor, will be expected to develop an Individualized Career Development Plan (ICDP) in which the trainee (i) identifies and outlines both short- and long-term career goals; (ii) produces a detailed research proposal incorporating a clearly defined hypothesis, specific aims, and experimental plan; and (iii) elaborates on the didactic and educational plan to complement the trainee’s research focus. The ICDP will be revised by the trainee and review by the mentoring team and training committee on an annual basis.

Oversight: A continuous process of Program Oversight focusing on the individualized professional development of each trainee will include formulation and annual review of the ICDP, assembly and regular meetings of the mentoring team, regular oral presentation of “Research in Progress,” and annual progress evaluations by the training committee.

Recruitment and retention of underrepresented minorities: Our training program and the University of Pittsburgh’s Schools of the Health Sciences are committed to providing training opportunities to underrepresented, ethnic, disadvantaged, and/or disabled groups. This commitment includes specific programs designed to promote the trainee-to-faculty transition (i.e. the Career Education and Enhancement for Health Care Research Diversity (CEED) Program) as well as numerous other programs. Additional general information related to diversity resources can be found at the Office of Health Science Diversity (OHSD).

Program Leadership:
Program Director: Robert M. O'Doherty, PhD
Program Co-Directors: Bruce Freeman, PhD; Don DeFranco, PhD; Trevor Orchard, MD, PhD

Application: Click here to download the form for the Postdoctoral training program in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism OR contact us for further information.