Welcome to the website for the Vanderbilt Research Training in Diabetes and Endocrinology Post-Doctoral Training Program.
This multi-disciplinary post-doctoral research training program endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism is an integral component of the training activities of the Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Vanderbilt Diabetes Center. It derives support from a T-32 training grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at the National Institutes of Health. Its goal is to provide post-doctoral trainees with the knowledge and skills required for independent clinical or basic science research careers. M.D. trainees are encouraged to acquire a firm foundation in the basic sciences, but also to select projects in translational or clinical research areas. Ph.D. trainees are urged to relate their research to health-oriented problems. M.D. trainees usually have two or three years of residency training before entering the program. Ph.D. trainees have typically just received or are one year out from their doctorate. Trainees are selected on the basis of demonstrated research interests and especially on their potential as future researchers and educators. Training positions are allocated approximately equally between M.D.'s and Ph.D.'s. The 2 year training program utilizes the preceptor approach, in which the trainee develops a research project under the guidance of a faculty preceptor. Typical research topics include hormone action in humans as it relates to diabetes, intermediary metabolism, micronutrient effects on metabolic disease, metabolic regulation, molecular genetics of metabolic diseases, and translation of diabetes care delivery. In over 3 decades of NIH support, the program has supported more than 100 trainees, and over 70% have chosen careers in academia, industry, or government.
This Diabetes Research and Training Center Post-Doctoral Training Program is supported by an NIH training grant (NIH grant T32 DK007061) and by the Vanderbilt Diabetes Research and Training Center (NIH grant DK20593).