Stanford Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Research Fellowship

The Stanford Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) at Stanford University School of Medicine is now accepting applications for a one to two-year Research Fellowship. The Stanford ADRC is part of a nationwide network of Alzheimer’s Disease Centers supported by the National Institutes of Health. The centers work together to translate research advances into improved diagnosis and care for people with Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease related dementias (AD/ADRD). The clinical and research focus of the Stanford ADRC includes both Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body diseases (dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson’s disease). Our center has particular strength in neuroimmunity, synapse biology, brain imaging, clinical assessment and clinical research, biostatistics and bioinformatics, epidemiology, and caregiver outreach. As such, the Stanford ADRC Research Fellowship provides specialized training in AD/ADRD.

The mission of the Stanford ADRC Research Fellowship Program is to prepare the next generation of researchers for careers in brain aging and AD/ADRD though participation in integrated clinical and basic science training opportunities and mentored research experiences. In collaboration with their mentors, Scholars accepted into the Stanford ADRC Research Fellowship Program will develop and implement a research project, present and publish findings, participate in grant writing, and learn to use the latest technologies for educational activities and clinical service delivery. Our Scholars receive mentorship in AD and ADRD from internationally renowned clinical and basic science researchers. 

Funding

This fellowship consists of one to two calendar years of training; Scholars start on or around March 1 each year. The length of the proposed training (1 or 2 years) must be scientifically justified as essential for a successful fellowship. At the beginning of the training year, the Scholar will work with the Research Mentor and REC Leadership to develop an individualized training plan that balances taking advantage of the rich training and professional development opportunities with conducting clinical and basic science research in AD and ADRD

Didactics

Stanford ADRC Research Scholars have the opportunity to participate in many didactics throughout the training year. There are several Core and Optional year-long didactics Scholars will participate in as part of the ADRC (see Table 1), as well as training in Responsible Conduct of Research (if not already completed as part of other training).  There are additional didactics Scholars can choose to include in their training plan, including courses in statistics, epidemiology, laboratory methods, image processing, or other topics relevant to their projects and training goals.

Evaluation

The REC Scholar will meet with a member of the REC Leadership team monthly to review the Scholar’s progress towards meeting the goals set for in the Scholar’s Training Plan. This meeting will serve as an opportunity for the Scholar and REC leaders to identify any potential areas for adjustment in the Training Plan, to ensure that the full breadth of experience leading to independence in all competency areas will be obtained by the end of the training period. The training plan will be formally assessed and revised annually.

Application and Selection Process

Selection of REC Scholars is done by the REC Selection Committee using the following criteria:

1) Breadth and quality of previous general training opportunities

2) Breadth, depth, and quality of training experience areas relevant to the Stanford ADRC mission

3) Quality and scope of scholarship, as indicated partially be research, convention papers, and publications

4) Relationship between clinical and research interests/experience of the applicant

5) Evidence of personal maturity and accomplishments

6) Thoughtfulness of answers to the application questions

7) Goodness of fit between applicant's stated objectivs, the training program, and the medical center's resources

8) Use of ADRC resources

9) Strength of letters of recommendation from professionals who know the applicant well

The     The Fellowship program follows a policy of selecting the most qualified candidates and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our  comcommitment to diversity includes attempting to ensure an appropriate   representation of individuals along many dimensions, including (but not limited to) gender, sexual orientation, age, ethnic/racial minorities, and persons with disabilities.

To apply to be a Stanford ADRC Research Scholar, you must submit the required application elements listed below. Incomplete applications will not be read by the REC Selection Committee.

Application Requirements List:

            1. A signed letter of interest (up to 3 pages) that strictly follows the instructions. Please review the Stanford ADRC website so that you are familiar with the faculty and research interests. In your letter please described:

• Your previous educational, clinical and research experiences
• Your areas of clinical and research interest and its alignment with the Stanford ADRC research area(s) and mission
• Specific clinical and research goals and objectives for your Fellowship Year
• Your career “next steps"

        2. NIH Biosketch

        3. Research Proposal (up to 3 pages, not including references)

• Project Title
• Purpose: state the goal and specific objectives of the proposed research; clearly describe the question to be addressed. Also indicate the length of fellowship proposed (1 or 2 years) with brief justification.
• Background: Explain scientific rationale for project; describe innovative features of your project; describe how research will advance knowledge in AD and ADRD field.
• Methods and Research Plan: Outline proposed study design methods.
• Key Personnel: Identify Research Mentor and other potential collaborators. ADRC Faculty are not required to be the primary research mentor, but are encouraged to be collaborator or part of the mentorship team.
• Resources Needed with Associated Costs: Proposed use of funds (up to $30,000) and scientific justification for the proposed project.
• References

            4. Two letters of recommendation from faculty members or clinical supervisors who know your research work well. We encourage letter writers to send documents as Microsoft Word or  Adobe Acrobat files. 

Key Dates

December 2021: Applications open

January 11: 4:45 PM PST: Informational Webinar, join live at: https://stanford.zoom.us/j/91285875400?pwd=cm8zSjU4ZUpiTXAzWDZlUWJ2Z0lLUT09 (Passcode: 202527) [recorded and available on the ADRC website: http://med.stanford.edu/adrc/research/fellowship.html ]

February 14 2022: 5:00 PM PST: Application Deadline

February 2022: Review of Applications and Notification of Funding Decisions

March 1, 2022: Fellowships begin

January 2023: ADRC External Advisory Council Meeting

February 28, 2023: End of First Training Year, Reports due

Please join the Informational Webinar on January 11th for more information and a chance to ask any questions regarding this Fellowship. Further information can also be obtained by contacting the Stanford ADRC Research Education Component Team, including our Coordinator Kristen Wheeler by email at kjwheele@stanford.edu, or REC Lead Dr. Kathleen Poston by email at klposton@stanford.edu or REC Co-Lead Dr. Kaci Fairchild by email at jkaci@stanford.edu.