Training Program

TPLBP Thematic Areas

• Citizenship: Individuals eligible for the training program must be either US citizens or permanent residents at the time of appointment due to NIH regulations.

• NRSA Support: No individual trainee may receive more than 5 years of total Kirschstein-NRSA support at the predoctoral level and 3 years of total Kirschstein-NRSA support at the postdoctoral level. This includes any combination of support from Kirschstein-NRSA institutional research training grants and individual fellowships.

The University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago invites applications for predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowship positions in regenerative medicine, stem cell biology, novel approaches to treating inflammatory diseases, drug discovery, nanotechnology, cell mechanics, genetic models of disease, and COVID-19 therapy on our T32 Postdoctoral Training Program.

Predoctoral Applicants

• Qualifications: Trainees must be currently pursuing a PhD, MD, or MD/PhD and be associated with a current training faculty mentor.
• To Apply: Application Form

Postdoctoral Applicants

• Qualifications: A PhD, MD, PharmD, or MD/PhD degree is required. Experience with biomedical research is also highly desirable. Competitive candidates will have a publication record and excellent communication skills.
• To Apply: Application Form

The University of Illinois at Chicago is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer. Minorities, women, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The University of Illinois may conduct background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer. Background checks will be performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Each trainee is expected to:

• Have their research results accepted for publication as the first author.
• Attend all Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine seminars.
• Present their research at our Annual Retreat.
• Submit an abstract to and attend a national or international conference related to their research.
• Complete the PCOL 550: Biology and Pharmacology of the Lung course and the GC 501 ethics course.
• Create an Individual Development Plan with their mentor, which will be reviewed annually.

The training grant offers the following benefits:

• Competitive stipend support for predoctoral and postdoctoral research scientists, aligned with NIH-level salaries.
• A system of co-mentorship provided by senior investigators.
• Travel expenses of $1,400 for each trainee.
• Research expenses: Workshops (e.i. Bioinformatics, Grant writing, career development); Software, other resources. Any request should be addressed to the T32 committee 
• A laboratory environment that includes training and supervision is essential for the development of independent researchers.
• Access to educational resources such as didactic courses, guest speakers, and opportunities for collaborative interactions that will help cultivate the skills needed for a successful research career.
• An administrative structure designed to help trainees secure dedicated time for research activities, free from unrelated obligations.

Payback obligation
Postdoctoral NRSA trainees and fellows incur a payback obligation during their first year of support, while predoctoral trainees do not. Payback entails performing qualified research or teaching activities equivalent to the duration of NRSA support received. For example, if you receive 12 months of postdoctoral support, you owe 12 months of payback activities. The payback obligation is only for the first year. If you spend a second year on training, it satisfies the first year’s obligation. Completing two full years of NRSA training fulfills your payback requirement.

Generally, payback activities must involve at least 20 hours per week over 12 consecutive months, though exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis.

Additional resources on payback obligations can be found on the NIH website, along with separate payback FAQs.

Beyond the comprehensive in-person training in responsible conduct of research (RCR) provided through the UIC-Office of the Vice Chancellor of Research https://research.uic.edu/compliance/ori/rcr/rcrworkshop/

Training and Other Resources for Rigor and Reproducibility

https://grants.nih.gov/policy-and-compliance/policy-topics/reproducibility/training

Guidance: Rigor and Reproducibility in Grant Applications

https://grants.nih.gov/policy-and-compliance/policy-topics/reproducibility/guidance

NIMH Clinical Research Education, Support, and Training (CREST) Program

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/funding/clinical-research/nimh-clinical-research-education-support-and-training-crest-program

For questions, please contact the Training program coordinator, Dr. Muriel Blin, at mblin@uic.edu.