Program Description:

The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine offers a postdoctoral training program for both basic science and clinical researchers interested developing an academic career in pain research. Candidates must obtain their doctoral degree (MD, PHD, PSYD, DDS, etc.) prior to starting the fellowship. The training program is intended to develop postdoctoral trainees’ skills to become independent investigators in the interdisciplinary field of biobehavioral pain research. Candidates with some background in neuroscience or pain with evidence of commitment to a research career are preferred. The training program (1-2 years) incorporates coursework, mentored research experiences, an individual integrated research project, seminars, and exposure to professional development skills, including grant proposal and manuscript writing. In rare cases a third year may be possible. The overarching goal of the postdoctoral program is to prepare the next generation of innovative research leaders to work cooperatively within an interdisciplinary team to address the complex problem of pain. This program is supported by an NIH NINDS T32 training grant.

 

The neuroscience of pain will be emphasized throughout the training. The fellowship incorporates coursework and mentored research experiences in at least two scientific domains that are synthesized by: 1) an integrated research project, 2) an extramural grant application, and 3) the writing and publishing of papers. The training objectives are to: 1) develop an enhanced foundation in the neuroscience of pain; 2) engender a broad conceptualization of pain that includes, but is not limited to, neurobiological, cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and social processes; 3) develop skills for communicating, networking and collaborating with scientists in other disciplines; and 4) design and conduct an integrative pain research project. Each fellow will be collaboratively mentored by two core faculty with distinct domains of pain-related research expertise in either: 1) neuroscience, 2) clinical research and 3) behavioral or social science.

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Trainee Requirements:

To be appointed to the T32 research training grant, an individual must be a citizen, a non-citizen national of the United States or must have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence (i.e., in possession of a current, valid Alien Registration Receipt Card I-551, or must be in possession of other legal verification of such status). Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible for the T32.

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Trainees must have received, as of the beginning date of the appointment, a MD/PhD, MD or PhD or comparable doctoral degree from an accredited domestic or foreign institution. Written certification by an authorized official of the degree-granting institution that all degree requirements have been met, prior to the date training is to begin, is acceptable. Preference will be given to candidates with strong research potential.

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Salary will be according to NIH fellowship and training stipend levels.

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We especially encourage applications from members of under-represented minority groups. Johns Hopkins is a non-discriminatory/affirmative action equal opportunity employer.

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Applications:

To apply, please send a Curriculum Vitae and a one-page cover letter describing your career goals and areas of research interest related to pain research to: Michael T. Smith, Ph.D. at: msmith62@jhmi.edu