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UNC Program in Translational Medicine Certificate

CALL FOR STUDENT APPLICATIONS

Deadline: June 1st, 2024

The UNC Program in Translational Medicine Certificate invites applications from Ph.D. candidates at the end of their 1st or 2nd year of graduate school. The goal of the Program in Translational Medicine is to prepare graduate students to work effectively in a clinical environment on translational research. Students who participate in and successfully complete the required program activities will be eligible to receive a Certificate in Translational Medicine from UNC concurrent with the completion of their Ph.D.

Watch a 40 minute information session for those who wish to apply for this program (recorded on4/27/2023): https://uncch.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=56e2407c-7fb8-40fc-8bc3-aff10157da41

Certificate Requirements:

  • Applicants must be PhD students at the end of their first or second year in a PhD-granting program at UNC and be pursing a dissertation project in translational research. A clinical co-mentor is required. Preference will be given to those working in direct collaboration with a clinician-scientist.
  • Take and pass 8 credits of Translational Research/Clinical Coursework. The following courses are preapproved to fulfill this requirement:
    • PATH 713-714: Molecular and Cellular Pathophysiological Basis of Disease (5 credits total)
    • Path 723: Practical Considerations for Translational Research (2 credits)
    • PATH 725: Cancer Pathobiology
    • CBPH 852-853: Experimental Physiology of Health and Human Disease (4 credits each).
    • NUTR 600: Human Metabolism: Macronutrients (3 credits)
    • NUTR 620: Human Metabolism: Micronutrients (3 credits)
    • NBIO 800: Gene-Brain-Behavior Interactions in Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Towards an Integration of Perspectives on Disease Mechanisms (3 credits)
    • NBIO 801: Clinical Syndromes & Neurodevelopmental Disorders (3 credits)
    • NBIO 751: Neurodevelopmental Basis of Brain Disorders (2 credits)
    • Alternative coursework may be approved on a case by case basis with program leadership.
  • 75% attendance at monthly “Research in Progress” seminars during year 1 and 2 in the program
  • Participation at the annual Translational Medicine Symposium.
  • Undertake a multi-year clinical exposure with their co-mentor, relevant to their research project. Five hours per month during the first two years in the program is suggested.

Application Requirements:

  1. Complete the Applicant Information Form found at: https://unc.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_71cGi4axM8MpmF8
  2. Applicant’s NIH biosketch (see https://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms/biosketch.htm)
  3. A letter of support from your primary mentor describing how the proposed project will prepare the student to interface with clinicians in their research, and the mentor’s commitment to requirements of the program
  4. A letter of support from your clinical co-mentor describing relationship to the mentor and the research project and commitment to provide the student with appropriate clinical exposure
  5. A letter of support from a third person familiar with your research potential
  6. Three Part Proposal (not to exceed two pages), which includes these sub headings:
    1. Specific aims of your project proposal
    2. Describe your clinical exposure plan
    3. Describe your career interests and reason for interest in the certificate

Deadline: June 1st, 2024.

Please submit all application materials in a single PDF to Patrick Brandt (pdb@unc.edu).

For more information about the application process or the program in general, contact Dr. Patrick Brandt, Program Coordinator (919.843.9342, pdb@unc.edu).

Signed,

Bernard Weissman, PhD

Patrick Brandt, PhD