T32 Pre and Postdoctoral Fellowships

T32 Interdisciplinary Training in Cancer, Caregiving, and End-of-Life Care

Our NIH-funded training program is shaping the next generation of scientists to provide evidence on how to best help patients and families sustain health and well-being, foster patient and family engagement, manage symptoms associated with chronic disease, and die free of pain and family burden.

Program Overview and Objectives

Program Overview

Each trainee participates in a two-year program (year two is contingent upon performance) consisting of a combination of mentored research and career development, seminars, a journal club, intensives in innovation, trainee interest groups, visiting scholars, conference-based learning, and course work. These nurse scientists will gain the knowledge, expertise, and leadership skills to lead innovative programs of research that will ultimately affect individuals with cancer (and other chronic or life-limiting illnesses) and their families.

Our T32NR013456 NIH NINR funded program engages pre and post-doctoral trainees in state of the science knowledge, cutting edge research designs, and innovative thinking addressing key questions in cancer, family caregiving, and end-of-life care. Potential fellows must have a research interest in one these three domains.

The program builds upon research opportunities at the University of Utah’s College of Nursing, Health Sciences and Academic Campuses and also NCI designate comprehensive cancer center, Huntsman Cancer Institute.

Program Objectives

Engage trainees in state of the science knowledge and stimulate innovative thinking that addresses key research questions in the three domains.
Prepare trainees to conduct research using rigorous methodological skills and sophisticated analytics to support innovative designs that advance the science.
Provide trainees with the requisite skills and experiences in successful grant writing, publications and presentations that lead to high impact dissemination, translation, and implementation of research findings to improve clinical practice and community health.
Mentor trainees to become leaders of interdisciplinary science teams and influencers of research and health policy in cancer, caregiving, and end-of-life care.

Unique Aspects to Utah's Training Program

Flexibility in the West

Our program offers two modes of education: in-residence and distance training via video conference. We are committed to making scientific training geographically accessible.

Distance: Since the early 2000's, we have honed our live virtual-training through funding from NCI, NINR, and the John A. Hartford Foundation to educate doctorally prepared nurse scientists regardless of where they live. Our faculty are highly experienced in building productive working relationships by engaging mentors and teams locally as well as across the country.
In-Residence: As one of a handful of co-located research universities with a full academic medical center and comprehensive cancer center, fellows can have in-person access to a wide range of participant populations and scientific resources. While living here, fellows can walk out the door of the college and go hiking in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountain range or travel a short distance and visit the five national parks in Southern Utah.

Premier Research Support

In addition to the grant-writing support of each fellow's mentorship, our T32 is supported by The Emma Eccles Jones Nursing Research Center.

This center is supported by a 12 person team supporting 3 key areas:

Applied Statistics
Proposal/Research Support
Research Center Support

The center's staff are highly trained professionals who specialize in pre-and post-award support of extramural grant applications. Fellows are assigned to work one-on-one with a doctoral pre-award support staff person, in preparing a grant submission (i.e. budget preparation, editing, document preparation). The center offers assistance with funding searches, statistical support, and post-award budgetary and regulatory management.

Standard Benefits

Mentored Research

Trainees have a primary mentor supported by an interdisciplinary mentorship team. Trainees will assist with their mentor's projects and conduct independent research to develop their skills in all phases of the research process, interdisciplinary research, team science, research leadership, scientific writing, presentation, and grant proposals.

Intensives in Innovative Science

Twice per year, T32 trainees will participate in experiential learning. Taking the format of a half-day workshop, these experiences will stimulate innovative thinking, prepare trainees to question assumptions in the fields of cancer, caregiving, end-of-life care, and develop new and innovative questions and approaches to advance the science.

T32 Seminar

Special Topics in Cancer, Caregiving, and End-of-Life Care Research is a 10-week, 1 credit seminar series featuring experts from across the US, including our faculty, leading discussions in state of the science research in cancer, caregiving, and end-of-life care. Trainees will build their knowledgebase, develop their networking skills, and create potential collaborative projects.

Visiting Scholar

Once per year, a member of our esteemed External Advisory Committee will meet with trainees in-person on the campus of the University of Utah. Trainees will present their work to a group consisting of the visiting scholar, mentors, and their trainee colleagues. The visiting scholar is also available to meet with trainees one-on-one. Trainees gain experience in presenting, receive and provide feedback from a national external expert, and broaden their scientific network.

Mentoring for Independent Career Development

Trainees will work with their mentors to identify professional development needs, monitor progress, and implement career plans. Trainees will take ownership of their career development through an Individual Development Plan.

Trainee Interest Groups

Trainees will work together in subgroups that will lead to papers and presentations around shared areas of interest. This will develop cohesiveness and experience in collaboration.

Journal Club

Trainees select articles related to current research in cancer, caregiving, and end-of-life care and lead a collegial discussion related to the publication. Trainees will gain expertise in peer review and article critique while expanding their knowledge in methodologies, design, and analysis.

Conference-based Learning

Trainees are encouraged to submit their work to national meetings, providing invaluable presentation experience and opportunities to increase scientific knowledge and broaden their scientific network.

Predoctoral Fellowship

Eligibility Requirements

Baccalaureate degree
Enrolled in a doctoral program leading to a PhD or a comparable research doctoral degree
The individual to be trained must be a citizen or a noncitizen national of the United States or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence at the time of appointment
Full-time commitment to training, normally defined as 40 hours per week (no more than 10 hours a week of part-time work is allowed)

Application Materials

Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Research statement related to cancer, caregiving, and end-of-life care. You are limited to three pages to:
- describe your career goals
- identify a potential mentor(s) and provide a rationale for your selection
- identify goals for the training period and how they match with the opportunities available
- provide a brief summary of your research experience and plans for advancing your research program
- discuss how your focus fits with our training model.
Transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable)
Academic writing sample
Brief summary (one page max) of your years of prior research

Postdoctoral Fellowship