Postdoctoral trainees and fellows
Training grants
The Department of Human Genetics currently offers three training grants.
NIMH Doctoral and Post-doctoral Training Program
in Psychiatric and Statistical Genetics
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics
The institute offers a rich interdisciplinary training environment at the Virginia BioTechnology Reseach Park with outstanding molecular genetic and computer facilities. Institute faculty members include some of the leaders in the field of behavioral and psychiatric genetics and reflect a wide range of scientific backgrounds from molecular and statistical genetics to epidemiology, psychology and psychiatry. The institute is home to the Mid-Atlantic Twin Registry, which systematically ascertains all twins born in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Currently funded research includes molecular-genetic studies of schizophrenia, nicotine dependence, alcoholism, eating disorders, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and pioneering twin studies of complex disorders including adolescent behavioral development, epilepsy, adult anxiety, depression, substance abuse disorders, and cardiovascular disease, together with pertinent epidemiologic risk factors such as stressful life events, social support and parent-child relationships. In addition, faculty members are at the forefront of developing methods for the statistical genetic analysis of complex disorders. The NRSA fellowships will be funded by an NIMH training grant in psychiatric and statistical genetics.
Doctoral candidates can be accepted into a number of programs at VCU including human genetics, psychology (including clinical and developmental specialties), medicine (M.D./Ph.D.), biostatistics and integrative life sciences. Postdoctoral training is tailored to the experience and needs of the candidate. Further information on the degree programs may be found on the VCU Web site http://www.vcu.edu, and details of the institute, its faculty and research may be found at http://www.vipbg.vcu.edu
To apply, send copy of current CV and three letters of reference with cover letter including statement of interest and goals to neale@hsc.vcu.edu or:
Dr. Michael Neale, director NIMH Training Program
Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics
P.O. Box 980126 Richmond, Virginia 23298-0126 USA
NCI Doctoral and Post-Doctoral Training Program
in Cancer Prevention and Control
Virginia Commonwealth University
Massey Cancer Center
The Massey Cancer Center at Virginia Commonwealth University is among the nation's leading research and clinical institutions, a National Cancer Institute designated Center. It is central Virginia's most important resource for cancer research. Since 1975, Massey Cancer Center has served the commonwealth of Virginia and the nation as an internationally recognized center of excellence in research, education and patient care dedicated to improving the quality of human life through the development of effective means for the prevention, control and ultimately the cure of cancer.
The Cancer Control Training Program was spearheaded by Dr. Elizabeth Fries to stimulate state-of-the-art, cross-cutting, multidisciplinary research in behavioral science, behavioral genetics and genetic epidemiology, health services research and palliative care. This program has elite faculty researchers/mentors from more than seven departments and institutes. Particular strengths and interests of our faculty include: decision making, community-based research, adolescence, cancer outcomes, cancer surveillance, dietary change, risk communication, tobacco addiction, prevention and cessation, palliative care, youth smoking, quality of life, clinical trials methodology, and genetic epidemiology and twin methodology.
Doctoral candidates can be graduate students in a number of programs at VCU including Human Genetics, Psychology and Biostatistics. The two-year postdoctoral fellowship provides training to recent doctorates (Ph.D in Psychology or Social Sciences, Nursing, Genetics, Epidemiology, Biostatistics or other related field, or Dr.P.H., or M.D. candidates pursuing research careers); and more experienced doctorates wishing to change their research focus. Further information about the Cancer Control Training Program can be found on the Massey Cancer Center Web site.
To apply send copy of current CV and three letters of reference with cover letter including statement of interest and goals to hmaes@hsc.vcu.edu or:
Dr. Hermine Maes, co-director NCI Training Program
Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics
P.O. Box 980003 Richmond, Virginia 23298-0003 USA
Partnership awarded three-year $142,500 grant to provide leadership
education in neurodevelopmental disabilities genetic counseling (July 2005)
Richmond, Va. – The Partnership for People with Disabilities, an affiliate of the School of Education at Virginia Commonwealth University has received a three-year award of $142,500 to improve the integration of the genetic information into leadership training programs, and to prepare a diverse workforce of genetic counselors with interdisciplinary leadership training to serve children with special health care needs and their families. The program, entitle SYNERGY: Virginia LEND and Genetic Counseling Working Together, is a collaborative effort between the Virginia Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (Va-LEND) Program at the Partnership, and the Genetic Counseling Program in the VCU School of Medicine. The program is one of three national awards.
Va-LEND began in 1995 and has trained approximately 90 professionals in health and other related disciplines to assume leadership roles across the country with a focus on eliminating health disparities, assuring quality health care, and facilitating coordination and access to care for children with neurodevelopmental and related disabilities. The interdisciplinary training program involves the active participation of 16 faculty from seven schools and colleges at VCU. Students are recruited from VCU and other Virginia graduate programs, as well as local and state agencies in the Greater Richmond Metropolitan area. The new SYNERGY grant provides supplemental funding to support genetic counselor training in leadership and disabilities, enhance multicultural recruitment to LEND training, disseminate learning modules in genetic awareness, family history and newborn screening, and provide a focus for enhancing the genetic component of LEND programs nationally.
Joann Bodurtha, M.D., M.P.H., LEND director is the principal investigator for this project. Lauren Vanner-Nicely, M.S., core faculty in genetic counseling is SYNERGY project director. SYNERGY is funded by the Association of University Centers on Disabilities through a contract with Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration.
For all programs, Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action university. Women, minorities, persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
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