OHSU

Graduate Training

NIH - Sponsored:

Postdoctoral Fellowship for training in

CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE

The Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and the Heart Research Center at Oregon Health & Science University, Portland Oregon
Sponsored by: A Ruth L. Kirschtein NRSA Training Grant (T-32) Award from the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda MD.
Principal Investigator: Kent L. Thornburg, PhD

Program Overview

The NIH-sponsored training program for Cardiovascular Research and Translational Science at OHSU is dedicated to the advanced specialty research training of physician-scientists and basic scientists. The program funds a total of six positions (MD, DO, or PhD) for a two-year research experience in one of four general investigative categories (see faculty):

  1. Regulatory Physiology
  2. Diabetes/obesity
  3. Developmental Programming
  4. Human Studies

The Goal

The goal of our program is to train PhD medical scientists and MD physician-scientists in translational science as it applies to cardiovascular medicine. The NIH-sponsored training program provides laboratory research training and mentoring that will establish the basis for a successful career as an independent investigator in an academic institution. Laboratory research will be supplemented with course work and scientific seminars. Unique aspects of the program include provision of individualized curriculum and career development, and the team-approach to mentoring that include both basic and clinical scientists. Our goal is to produce scientists with a broad outlook and a focus on bringing science to the benefit of patients.

Program Components:

The duration of support for this program is 2 years, although arrangements can be made for trainees to extend their research fellowship beyond the period of funding.

For physician-scientists, up to one year of the research program can qualify towards an ACGME-accredited Fellowship (or two years for those accepted into an ACGME Research "Fast-track").

Activities:

The training program will involve the following activities:

  1. Research training under the guidance of a primary research mentor
  2. Periodic meeting with a mentoring team including the primary mentor, and two co-mentors
  3. Course work (Biostatisics, Ethics of Research, Becoming a Successful Scientist, The Scientific Basis of Cardiology, Genetic Foundations of Cardiac Biology, Scientific Writing, etc.) or courses in the NIH funded Human Investigation Certificate Program
  4. Career Counseling with the mentoring team
  5. Participation in conferences (Cardiology Research Conference, Integrative Physiology, Heart Research Center Annual Scientific Retreat)

 

An SEM image of the endothelium of a normal aorta (picture from Dr. Lindner's lab)

An SEM image of the endothelium of a normal aorta (picture from Dr. Lindner's lab)

Faculty and Adminstration:

  1. Diabetes / Obesity: Jonathan Purnell, MD | Daniel Marks, MD, PhD | Kevin Grove, PhD | Charles Roberts, PhD | Jonathan Lindner, MD | Sanjiv Kaul, MD
  2. Developmental Programming: George Giraud, MD,PhD | Jan Christian, PhD | Lowell Davis, MD | David Sahn, MD | Kent Thornburg, PhD
  3. Regulatory Physiology:Michael Andersen,PhD | Virginia Brooks, PhD | Allison Fryer, PhD | Beth Habacker, PhD | Steve Hanson, PhD | Mary Stenzel-Poore, PhD | Peter Rotwein,MD | John Adelman, PhD | Brian Druker, MD | David Ellison, MD | W. Harvey Fleming, MD | David Jacoby MD | William Skach, MD | Philip Stork, MD | Joseph Weiss, MD PhD | Zhenfeng Zhou, PhD
  4. Human Studies: Cynthia Morris, PhD | Thomas Becker, MD, PhD | Lyle Fagnan, MD | William Hersh, MD | Robert Lowe, MD | Robert Steiner, MD

Training in Translational Science and Cardiovascular Research (NIH-sponsored program T-32)
Program Director: Kent Thonburg, PhD
Associate Director: Sanjiv Kaul, MD

Contrast enhanced ultrasound targeted imaging developed and refined by OHSU scientists provides a potent research method for the study of physiology.

Contrast enhanced ultrasound targeted imaging developed and refined by OHSU scientists provides a potent research method for the study of physiology.

Application Process

Timeline:

Applications:

Applications should include:

  1. Cover letter
  2. Curriculum vitae
  3. Personal statement of research experience and career goals
  4. Contact information for three references

Heart Research Center
3303 SW Bond Ave
Mailcode CH15H
Portland OR 97239

Oregon Health & Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote a culture of diversity and inclusion are encouraged to apply. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

Fetal sheep myocytes (from OHSU research laboratories)

Fetal sheep myocytes (from OHSU research laboratories)

Trainee Requirements

Trainees must have a graduate degree (MD, DO, PhD, DVM, PharmD, DDS, etc.).

Trainees must either be a United States citizen, a non-citizen national of the United States, or have Permanent Resident status (possess a currently valid Alien Registration Receipt Card I-551, or other legal verification of such status).

Three trainees will be accepted per year.

Selection Process

Applications will be judged based on research aptitude, desire to pursue an academic career, interest in translational research and general fit for the research program.

Minority candidates are encouraged.

External candidates with a high likelihood for entrance into the program will also be asked to interview at OHSU. ?