Our post-doctoral program is funded by an NIH T32 Training Grant currently in its 31st year. This program is designed to enable physicians and scientists to become academic and scientific leaders in areas relevant to human genetic disease. Their professional endeavors will thereby result in advancements in genetic diagnosis and genetic counseling, and, importantly, in the treatment of genetic disorders. The faculty in our program primarily consists of physician-scientists, and several have basic science laboratories funded by extramural grants. Genetics training is provided in the setting of a diverse and interactive clinical and scientific university medical center environment. In this environment, the trainees acquire expertise in genetic medicine, so that they will have the broadest possible background upon which to formulate and develop future endeavors. For physician trainees, such expertise will be essential as they assume academic positions as physician researchers. For laboratory specialty trainees, this broad experience will enable them to assume an interactive and participatory role in clinical departments, or in programs or centers engaged in the diagnosis, study, and treatment of genetic disorders.
The Program is designed to accommodate physicians interested in a research career in medical genetics, as well as scientists (PhD’s) interested in research, teaching and clinical laboratory direction in human and medical genetics. Physicians are required to have completed at least two prior years of residency training in a clinical specialty. This prior training has generally been in pediatrics, medicine, or obstetrics and gynecology, but we have graduated trainees from ophthalmology and neurology, and have had applicants from dermatology, family medicine, and emergency medicine. A physician with no residency training may enter the Program, but that individual would enter, and proceed with research training, in the same fashion as a non-physician (PhD) entrant. Non-physicians will have received the PhD in a basic science area relevant to medical genetics, or in a basic medical science such as pathology or anatomy. Prior post-doctoral experience is not required, but could well be an asset as the trainee embarks on research training in medical genetics.
Trainees are selected for interview by the Program Director, following transmittal of application materials, a statement of interests and career goals, and letters of reference. In some instances, with the permission of the applicant, the Program Director will speak directly with one or more of those individuals who have written in support of the applicant. The interview is conducted over 1 – 2 days, during which time the applicant meets with the Director, the Executive Committee, with several members of the Training Grant Advisory Group, and with additional Program faculty, including investigators working in the area(s) of potential interest to the applicant. All interviewers provide their impressions to the Director. The Executive Committee makes the final decision on admission to the Program.
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