Infectious Disease Research and Response Training Program

Guided by a diverse group of faculty from 16 departments and 2 centers bridging colleges, diverse cohorts of Ph.D. trainees will be equipped with the necessary skills to confront infectious disease threats to human health as they embark upon academic or nonacademic research careers. This training program is administered by the Infectious Disease Research and Response Network.

Program activities

Trainees will complete personalized coursework in microbiology, immunology, pathology, statistics, and bioinformatics to build foundational knowledge, critical thinking skills, and mastery of literature interrogation. Training in biosafety level 2 and 3 procedures, the responsible conduct of research, and methods to ensure rigor and reproducibility will be specifically addressed and emphasized throughout every aspect of the program. Trainees will participate in grant and manuscript writing courses that will yield submission-ready products. Additionally, trainees will have opportunities to engage in research-to-market programs and medium-scale biomanufacturing experiences to gain an in-depth understanding of the translational process.

Communication skills will be nurtured and practiced to ensure confidence and effective engagement with scientific and lay audiences alike. A variety of other professional development opportunities and tools will be provided to encourage life-long learning, improvement, wellbeing, and ultimate success.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• be a Ph.D. student working on a topic related to infectious disease.
• already have a faculty advisor who is part of the Infectious Disease Research and Response Training Program mentoring team.
• have successfully completed their preliminary exam by the application due date (June 17, 2024) and have at least two years remaining in their training program.

Funding

Each trainee receives:

• Stipend at the NIH predoctoral level, currently $27,144
• Tuition and fees up to $9,374
• Fees up to $2,264
• Travel costs of $1,000
• Training-related expenses, to be determined

Application information

Application Materials

In coordination with their advisor, eligible students should email the following to [email protected]:

1. Biographical sketch or curriculum vitae
2. Statement of interest describing career goals and professional development plan (1 page)
3. Research hypothesis and specific aims with progress to date (1 page)
4. 2 letters of reference (one letter must be from major advisor)
5. Mentoring plan and statement of current support for trainee research project from major advisor (1 page)
6. Stated commitment by the mentor to cover the stipend gap to reach the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology standard stipend, currently $31,500 ($4,356/year)