T32 Postdoctoral Training Program

The CTSC T32 grant-supported Clinical and Translational Scientist Training Program for Postdoctoral Researchers

The CTSC T32 grant-supported Clinical and Translational Scientist Training Program for Postdoctoral Researchers aims to develop Clinical/Translational scientists with skills for interdisciplinary work, ability to work across disciplines, and ability to envision and design advances in clinical and community settings. We will be seeking applications to fill four postdoctoral slots, with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2026. The appointment is for 2 years, the second year is contingent upon good progress in the first year of support. The postdoc program provides an NIH-approved stipend and funds to support research, travel to a scientific conference, and tuition.

Apply to be a T32 Postdoctoral Scholar 

**Application date to be announced soon**

Applicants for whom the training program is particularly appropriate: Individuals finishing up (or who recently finished) a research PhD in a clinical/translational science-related field; individuals finishing up a postdoc who seek more training in clinical/translational science; a medical resident in a research residency. We anticipate soliciting applications in early Fall 2025.

Length of appointment

2 years, second year contingent upon good progress in the first year of support

Support

Will include support for an NIH-approved stipend and funds to support research, travel to a scientific conference, tuition, health insurance, child care. The sponsoring department will agree to cover expenses above NIH-approved limits with non-federal funds to bring support to levels expected by institutional norms.

Eligible Research Areas

Any proposed clinical or translational research project is eligible. Proposed research addressing health equity is particularly responsive to this opportunity. For topics not directly addressing health equity, applicants must express their willingness to participate in training activities that will enable them to consider health equity implications of their future research as they develop their research careers.

Eligibility

1. At time of appointment, trainees must hold a doctoral-level degree in a clinical/translational science-related field (e.g., MD, DO, PhD, DMD, DNP, DrPH, PharmD, ND, DSW, PsyD)
2. Trainees with PhDs should be early in their postdoctoral stage, with no more than 2 years since the date of their terminal degree.
3. US citizenship or permanent resident status.
4. Applicants must disclose other plans for potential funding applications that may overlap with the period of TL1 support if funded.
5. Mentors must be approved for TL1 postdoctoral training. Expectations include having a rigorous research program with well-established external funding to enable mentorship of trainees to achieve productive research careers. If not already an approved, the mentor must submit an application for approval to be a T32 postdoctoral mentor.  Contact our CTSTP/T32 Administrative Director, Lauren Mazzagatti for details.
6. Participation will be expected in a set of program activities, tailored to individual needs, to enhance clinical/translational research training:  
   1. Bi-weekly K12 scholar seminar (if available)
   2. Workshops in systems science, informatics, community engagement
   3. Professional development seminars in team science, clinical research team leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship, and scientific communication.
   4. Seminars/presentations providing greater appreciation for diversity and equity in science.
7. We seek a set of trainees diverse in scientific focus, gender, and ethnicity. Women and underrepresented minorities are particularly encouraged to apply.
8. The program will expect trainees to provide progress report information and to remain in contact in the 15 years following training to provide career outcomes data expected by the NIH. 

Additional requirements

1. Proposed primary mentor must, if applicant is selected, participate in an initial 1-hr training session on enhancing mentoring skills and use of a mentor/mentee agreement or compact. Mentor also commits to annually attending a unit of the mentor training program run by the CWRU SOM Office of Graduate Education or another mentor training exercise sponsored by a CTSC partner (CCF, UH, MetroHealth, CWRU, Toledo School of Medicine, NEOMED) or by an NIH mentor-training programs.
2. Both primary mentor and trainee must agree to participate in annual evaluation (e.g., complete questionnaires, brief interview).

Application Materials (single spaced text)

1. Documents from the trainee applicant:
   1. Cover letter that indicates the following:
      1. U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status.
      2. Current sources of grant support and pending or planned applications.
      3. Commitment to pursuing postdoctoral training full time (normally defined as 40 hrs per week; research trainees who are also training as clinicians (stage of residency or fellowship) must devote their time to the proposed research training and must confine clinical duties to those that are an integral part of the research training goals).
      4. Commitment to participate in program activities determined by program leadership in conjunction with primary mentor.
      5. Commitment to provide progress report information and to remain in contact with program leadership for 15 years beyond participation in the program to track outcomes (e.g., grant support, publications, professional positions.
   2. Statement of career goals and commitment to clinical/translational research (~0.5 page).
   3. Training objectives and training plan (not the research objectives); list any proposed coursework, goals to attain new skill sets, other types of training objectives. Discuss the timeline for the training plan (~0.5 page)
   4. Mentorship plan: Indicate the primary mentor and any additional mentors and/or collaborators, and describe how they will promote the training objectives (~0.5 page)
   5. Statement of past research accomplishments (~1 page).
   6. List of peer-reviewed publications.
   7. Research proposal, including aims, summary of preliminary data, the experimental approach, and the significance in the context of clinical/translational research (3 page limit).
   8. Current CV.
   9. Updated NIH biosketch (if available).
2. Documents from the primary mentor:
   1. If not already an approved mentor, the mentor must submit an application for approval to be a T32 postdoctoral mentor.  Contact Lauren Mazzagatti, T32 postdoctoral program administrator for further information.
   2. Letter of recommendation including an assessment of qualifications and trajectory of the trainee for a career in clinical/translational research, and their current position and source of support.
   3. Updated NIH biosketch and NIH table of trainees.
3. Note: original and complete Residency/Fellowship application (for research track residents/fellows) may be provided by permission from the trainee to the T32 program for review.
4. Transcripts for prior university training may be required but are not necessary at the initial application.

For applicants from the University of Toledo, Northeast Ohio Medical University, institutions outside the CTSC, or any applicant who has not yet identified a mentor for the postdoctoral program: 

Please examine our list of currently approved mentors, as well as faculty in departments that align most strongly with your research interests and identify a prospective mentor(s). The T32 program leadership will facilitate setting up a meeting with you and these potential mentors. As appropriate, request that the prospective mentor(s) provide a letter of support.

All application materials should be sent directly to T32 program administrator Lauren Mazzagatti. 

Application Due Date: To Be Announced

**Anticipated early Fall 2025 / RFA will be available at that time**