"Post-Doc Trainee-CIDD"

Position Summary/Description

The Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities at the University of North Carolina (UNC-CIDD) is seeking fellows for our Postdoctoral Research Training Program in Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and co-directed by Ben Philpot and Mark Shen, this program emphasizes research training in both the biological basis and clinical manifestations of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Continuously funded since 2001 (T32HD040127), it was one of the first programs in the U.S. to bring together multi-disciplinary postdocs to accelerate translational research on NDDs. The UNC-CIDD T32 program has trained over 65 postdoctoral fellows to date, many of whom have subsequently obtained NIH K-awards, Simons Foundation, Burroughs Wellcome, or other prestigious junior faculty awards, and started their independent labs at R1 universities.

The goal of UNC-CIDD's T32 Postdoctoral Research Training Program is to develop researchers with expertise in both the biological basis and clinical manifestations of NDDs. This broad-based and integrated perspective enables researchers to better relate across disciplines and maximizes the potential for major research advances in understanding the pathogenesis and treatment of NDDs.

T32 fellows will participate in integrated training in biological and behavioral research in NDDs (e.g., autism, fragile X syndrome, Angelman syndrome, Dup15q syndrome, Down syndrome, Rett syndrome, Pitt-Hopkins syndrome, tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), schizophrenia, ADHD, language disability) while studying both clinical and basic sciences (e.g., neuroscience, neurology, genetics, cell biology and physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, allied health sciences, developmental psychology, and psychiatry).

The program provides a variety of opportunities including: (1) mentored research training in specific methods, NDDs, and underlying pathogenic mechanisms; (2) courses, seminars, and lectures that integrate the study of clinical NDDs, developmental processes, mechanisms of disease, and research methods; and (3) clinical experiences to complement translational research opportunities.

This program has an anticipated start date of July 1. The annual stipend for each trainee follows NIH guidelines based on years of experience. Note: the T32 program is designed as a two-year program: the second year of funding is contingent upon competitive renewal of the training grant.

Education and Experience

Ph.D. (from either basic science or clinical research programs) and M.D. (e.g., physicians in residency training) level trainees are encouraged to apply.