Skip Navigation
NIAID > Labs & Scientific Resources > Labs at NIAID > Training in NIAID Labs > Infectious Diseases Program > Structure of Research Training

Infectious Diseases Training Program

Skip Content Marketing
  • Share this:
  • submit to facebook
  • Tweet it
  • submit to reddit
  • submit to StumbleUpon
  • Pin it
  • submit to Google +

Infectious Disease Research Training

Overview

Doctor presenting weekly rounds
Dr. Daniel Federko presenting the weekly micro rounds in the Department of Laboratory Medicine. L to R: Daniel Federko, Michail Lionakis, Caroline Jjingo, Juan Gea-Banacloche, and fellow from Clinical Center Intensive Care Unit department.

In the second and third years, fellows undertake clinical and/or bench projects under the direct supervision of faculty mentors. The goal of the research training is to produce academic infectious diseases physicians who will be prepared for careers involving clinical, basic, or translational research after the completion of their fellowship. Fellows spend a minimum of two years in research and often stay for additional years to continue work on their projects. We offer a spectrum from clinical to basic research opportunities, and fellows may choose to work in any of the NIAID research groups or laboratories.

The process of selecting potential research mentors begins in the fall of the first year of fellowship, when NIAID holds a retreat for fellows to meet researchers and senior fellows. The fellows hear about research in which they can participate, ranging in scope from clinical trials to overseas studies to the most basic aspects of cell and molecular biology. Following the retreat, fellows consult individually with NIAID and training program leadership and then meet with potential mentors during their NIH-based rotations, their clinic days, and the week dedicated to exploring potential research options. Fellows typically choose a research mentor by springtime of their first year.

Those who elect to do clinical research may apply for the Training Program in Clinical Research, an M.H.S. program offered at NIH in collaboration with Duke University. Graduate-level courses in microbiology, immunology, and molecular biology are offered onsite by the Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences. Coursework leading to an M.P.H. is available through Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

back to top

Last Updated March 04, 2011