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We are on the leading edge of clinical and research training

From bench to bedside, researchers in the program are developing new ways to improve treatment and understand the causes of eating disorders. Our training projects examine eating disorders and range from molecular genetic studies to clinical trials.

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The team includes research faculty, post-doctoral fellows, graduate students, residents, medical students, and postgraduate and undergraduate trainees.

Postdoctoral Training

At any given time, we may have openings for MD and PhD fellowships. To inquire about research post-doctoral fellowships, please contact Dr. Cynthia Bulik.

Undergraduate and Postgraduate Training

This is an ideal research experience for local students interested in attending graduate programs for psychology, social work, nutrition, public health, genetics and medical school. Students are also encouraged to attend our weekly research meetings, journal club, and didactic seminars each Tuesday morning. To apply as a student trainee, you must be able to commit to work with our program for two consecutive semesters and devote 10 hours a week. We also require trainees to have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. Facility with Spanish and graphic design are highly desirable. Psychology 395 credit is available to the undergraduate trainees offered positions in our lab. Psychology 395 class times change by semester. Trainees are also sometimes given honor’s thesis mentorship, depending on the length and quality of their contribution to the research program.

The application form for trainees can be downloaded here and additional information about the training program can be found here. Applications are due by August 1st, December 1st, and April 1st for the following semester. We conduct interviews each August, December, and April for the following semester. We will contact you for an interview if you have made it to the second round of the application process and will announce acceptance into the program by the end of the semester. Questions? For more information contact our Director of Research Training, Dr. Emily Pietsky

Note: Applicants are required to submit a completed application form and a current unofficial academic transcript. Detailed instructions can be found on the first page of the application. Please do not use Google Chrome to open the application.

UNC CEED Summer Research Fellowship in Eating Disorders

Summer research fellowships are highly competitive positions open to undergraduate, postgraduate, and graduate students. We typically award two to four fellowships to individuals who have demonstrated strong academic potential. We encourage applications from individuals who are 1) first-generation college students or from low-income backgrounds, 2) DACA, and 3) from any underrepresented background. International applicants are welcome for either virtual or in person participation.

With reference to Covid-19, the 2024 summer fellowship will be hybrid-optional, although past fellows encourage on-site participation to fully benefit from the experience.

Many of our summer fellows have been in the early years of a graduate program (e.g., clinical psychology, epidemiology, nutrition, genetics), medical students, or advanced undergraduates. We welcome applicants from a broad range of disciplines from journalism to medicine. These positions are open for qualified applicants interested in an 8-week (June 3 – July 31) 40 hours a week research experience working at the UNC Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders (CEED). Those accepted to the program receive a $4,000 stipend paid in two installments. Please note, we are not able to provide housing or dining services. Fellows are given project and mentor assignments based on their experience and interests. If you are particularly interested in working with a specific faculty member, please indicate so on your application. The fellowship experience includes:

  • Summer intensive research experience with a primary faculty mentor. Mentors have been from UNC; Karolinska Institutet; Cardiff University, UK; Aarhus University, Denmark; University of Otago, New Zealand; and Psykiatrisk Center Ballerup, Copenhagen—all close collaborators of CEED faculty. Summer fellows regularly complete at least one publication, and often more.
  • Monthly combined research meetings (of UNC CEED and Karolinska Institute Centre for Eating Disorders Innovation [CEDI]).
  • Daily seminar series for fellows delivered by CEED and CEDI research and clinical faculty and advanced trainees and guest mentors from other universities. This series offers fellows an introduction to a wide range of topics in the eating disorders field (e.g., genetics, bariatric surgery, family-based treatment, advocacy).
  • Opportunity to shadow clinical care in our inpatient and outpatient programs (shadowing opportunities depend on the status of COVID precautions).
  • Opportunity to present their research to the CEED research team and received feedback on content and style.
  • Fellows are welcome to attend all other education seminars available in the UNC School of Medicine, Gillings School of Global Public Health, UNC College of Arts and Sciences, and CEDI.

Two to four summer fellows are selected each year. The application form can be downloaded here: UNC_SummerFellowshipApplication_2024. For more information contact our summer fellowship coordinator and Founding Director of CEED, Dr. Cynthia Bulik. Applications are due by December 1, 2023.

Note: Summer research fellowship applicants are required to submit a completed application form, one letter of recommendation, a current CV, and a current academic transcript. Detailed instructions can be found on the first page of the application.