NIH T32 Postdoctoral Research Fellowships
Research Training in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
The goal of the program is to develop clinician-scientists who will be leaders in the field of anesthesiology research, by providing rigorous postdoctoral research training with an emphasis on hypothesis-driven laboratory or clinical research.
Trainees, most of whom hold a MD degree, are expected to spend at least two years in the training program and devote a minimum of 80% effort toward their research. Most trainees are recruited from anesthesiology residency programs, but individuals from other clinical specialties may be considered if their research interest is focused on problems in anesthesiology. For trainees with a PhD degree, the research and training are specifically designed to promote a research career addressing problems in anesthesiology and provides opportunities to enhance their research training with a clinical perspective.
Although anesthesiology encompasses many branches of basic and clinical sciences, we believe that the most effective training can only be achieved through structured and focused teaching and research, utilizing the strength of existing research programs. Our T32 training faculty is multidisciplinary and includes both clinician-scientists and basic scientists as mentors in order to bridge the gap between basic science research on the bench top to clinical care at the bedside. Training faculty with MD, MD/PhD, and PhD degrees have active, externally funded research programs as well as an excellent track record in training students.
The training program emphasizes how to conceive and develop a sound scientific research project. The didactic component of the program includes lectures, seminars and departmental conferences. Topics include practical aspects of research from experimental design theory, literature review, biostatistics and data analysis, to related issues of scientific writing, oral presentation skills, grantsmanship, and research integrity. Ultimately, these skills are meant to supplement the basic science laboratory experience of the trainees. The Department is committed to providing the best research opportunities to help our trainees become physician scientists who will lead a successful academic career, will advance knowledge in the field of anesthesiology, and will be competitive in getting research grants.
Eligibility
- All trainees, in accordance with NIH regulations, must be U.S. citizens or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the U.S., i.e., holding a Permanent Resident Card ("Green Card").
- Candidates must have received a MD, DO, PhD or comparable doctoral degree from an accredited domestic or foreign institution.
- The University of Pittsburgh has a commitment to excellence and diversity. We encourage and welcome all qualified applicants and particularly encourage applications from members of underrepresented groups in the sciences, including underrepresented minorities, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from disadvantaged economic, social, cultural, or educational backgrounds. The School of Medicine has an Office of Health Sciences Diversity which assists with the mission of recruiting, counseling and supporting faculty and students who are underrepresented in the health professions. The University offers reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you are a person with a disability who would like to discuss potential accommodations or engage in a confidential conversation, please contact the Disability Resources and Services Department at 412-648-7890.
- This program is supported by the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS).
- To apply for the fellowship, please download our program application. For more information on the NIH T32 Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, please contact Yan Xu, PhD, Program Director.
Training in Mechanisms and Clinical Presentation of Pain
This program, hosted by the Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, aims to recruit and train the next generation of leaders in pain research, focusing on cutting-edge theories, techniques, and research strategies. Areas of research may include, but are not limited to, basic and/or clinical investigations on the molecular and cellular changes that contribute to the development of chronic pain, analysis of CNS pain circuits, human imaging studies, pain genetics, and fundamental processes underlying pain, itch, or touch. In addition, this training program provides a clinical component to the education of postdoctoral fellows with exposure to the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of chronic pain patients. Systematic and structured training will be provided in the laboratories of leading scientists with wide-ranging interests and research programs. Learn more
Other Postdoctoral Training Opportunities
CEED Program
The University of Pittsburgh Institute for Clinical Research’s Career Education and Enhancement for Health Care Diversity (CEED) Program is a career development fellowship for minorities who are underrepresented in academic medicine or the health sciences. The goal of CEED is to provide a solid foundation for a successful research career. Their unique program is designed for fellows, postdoctoral trainees, and junior faculty who are conducting health science research. More info