Learn about the NIH T32 Musculoskeletal Research training program offered by the National Institutes of Health to students in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Case Western Reserve University.
NIH T32 Training Grant: Training Program in Musculoskeletal Research
Source: NIH/NIAMSD (Ronald Triolo)
Project Start Date: 1985
Send application materials and inquiries to Rachael Murphy at rxm606@case.edu.
Description
The missions of this longstanding training grant are to provide training in musculoskeletal research to academically gifted individuals at the predoctoral and postdoctoral level and to develop these individuals towards productive careers in musculoskeletal research. The strong interdisciplinary nature of musculoskeletal research at CWRU provides an ideal framework for developing the trainees’ research expertise as well as their appreciation for the importance of interdisciplinary approaches and their interest in musculoskeletal diseases. The faculty are highly collaborative and interactive and include 21 training mentors plus 12 Associate mentors from 12 departments in the School of Medicine, the Case School of Engineering, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute.
There is a healthy mixture of biological-, engineering-, and clinical-oriented trainers, further emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary approaches. Training is provided for two or three years to four predoctoral and three postdoctoral trainees per year. A careful, multi-step selection process identifies trainees. Training occurs through intensive participation in research projects as well as through a rigorous curriculum of courses, seminars, and conferences. A steering committee and an advisory committee that formally review the overall program as well as the progress of each trainee on a regular basis assist the director and co-directors.
The success of the program is best appreciated by considering the career trajectories of our former trainees. Nineteen of them have obtained faculty positions at universities across the country and twelve have developed federally funded research programs. An additional eleven current and recent trainees from the previous two funding periods are actively engaged in biomedical research/academics. Training future musculoskeletal researchers is crucial since musculoskeletal diseases are major causes of morbidity, mortality, and impaired quality of life from millions of people in the United States and the number of affected individuals will continue to increase in frequency as our population ages.
Pre-Doctoral
Contact: Jess Podsedly jcp107@case.edu for timing and availability.
Are you involved in multidisciplinary musculoskeletal research?
The Training Program in Musculoskeletal Research is accepting applications for the support of outstanding pre-doctoral trainees of mentors with federally-funded trans-disciplinary musculoskeletal projects.
Eligibility
Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, have completed one pre-doctoral degree (BS or MS), and have been enrolled in a doctoral degree program for at least one year.
Program Advantages
- Membership in a broad community of experts in basic musculoskeletal science, rehabilitation and clinical translation
- Stipend and tuition (60%) support for tailored coursework and learning experiences, with additional coverage available for special circumstances
- Unique research & career mentorship opportunities with engaging peer-to-peer and inter-laboratory interactions
- Up to two-year commitment, dependent upon satisfactory review of progress
- Travel support for presentation of research findings at scientific meetings or to facilitate external collaborations
- Expense budget to help trainee with needed supplies or access to core facilities
Post-Doctoral
Contact: Jess Podsedly jcp107@case.edu for timing and availability
Do you have a passion for learning how to work across different academic & clinical disciplines?
The Training Program in Musculoskeletal Research is accepting applications for multi- disciplinary postdoctoral training experiences in the laboratories of mentors with federally-funded musculoskeletal projects to outstanding recipients of advanced degrees who can commit to pursuing independent careers in musculoskeletal research.
Eligibility
Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents with an advanced doctoral level degree (MD, PhD, MD/PhD or equivalent) and a strong desire to make original contributions to advancing evidence-based musculoskeletal health.
Program Advantages
- Membership in a broad community of experts in basic musculoskeletal science, rehabilitation and clinical translation
- Stipend at the NIH rate for applicable post-graduate year
- Tuition coverage for tailored coursework and learning experiences
- Unique research & career mentorship opportunities with engaging peer-to-peer and inter-laboratory interactions
- Two-year commitment renewable upon satisfactory performance
- Travel support for presentation of research findings at scientific meetings
- Expense budget to help trainee with needed equipment, supplies
How to Apply
Current Openings:
- Pre-doctoral: 1
- Post-doctoral: 1
Contact Jess Podsedly jcp107@case.edu for timing and availability.
From the primary mentor:
- Nomination Letter (one page) briefly summarizing:
- Strengths, weaknesses and potential of the candidate to pursue an independent musculoskeletal research career
- Current federal funding in the musculoskeletal research area
- Time commitment and structure of the mentoring experience, including roles of any co-mentors or collaborators
- NIH format biosketch including personal statement with history of mentorship, and highlighting prior trainee publications
From the candidate:
- NIH format Biosketch and graduate transcripts
- Research statement and project description (one page), including potential impact on musculoskeletal health care
- Personal statement (one page) describing career objectives and expectations from the training program
Send all materials in a singular PDF format to Jess Podsedly jcp107@case.edu.