Program Description

This clinical research training program funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (T32MH019938: A Biobehavioral Research Training Program) is designed for those who plan to pursue careers in clinical research with a specialization in adult disorders including mood, anxiety, eating disorders, and related areas such as insomnia. These are two-year positions contingent upon funding. The aim of this program is to help clinically trained MD and PhD fellows develop skills and experience in research to enable their own investigative careers.  Research in the program is conducted under the direction of faculty mentors. The core aspect of the program is the mentoring relationship that will eventually enable an independent program of research. The training program offers didactic courses to promote research and professional development.

Program Leadership

• Alan Schatzberg, M.D., Principal Investigator
• W. Stewart Agras, M.D., Co-Principal Investigator
• Rachel Manber, Ph.D., Co-Principal Investigator

Program Faculty

Faculty in the training program represent a broad range of research areas and disciplines. A representative list of faculty with expertise in basic and clinical research is below.   Applicants may also propose to work with mentors that are not on the list.

• W. Stewart Agras, M.D.,
  Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
• Bruce Arnow, Ph.D.,
  Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Director, Psychosocial Treatment Clinic
• Ben Barres, M.D., Ph.D.
  Professor of Neurobiology, of Developmental Biology, of Neurology and, by courtesy, of Ophthalmology
• Karl Deisseroth, M.D., Ph.D.,
  Professor of Bioengineering and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
• Laura Dunn, M.D.,
  Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
• Amit Etkin, M.D., Ph.D.,
  Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
• Cheryl Gore-Felton, Ph.D.,
  Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
• Ian Gotlib, Ph.D.,
  Professor of Psychology
• Michael Greicius, M.D., MPH
  Associate Professor of Neurology and, by courtesy, of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
• James Gross, Ph.D.,
  Professor of Psychology
• Joachim Hallmayer, Dr. med, M.D.
  Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
• Keith Humphreys, Ph.D.,
  Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
• Booil Jo, Ph.D.,
  Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
• Jennifer Keller, Ph.D.,
  Clinical Associate Professor and Research Associate
  
• Helena C. Kraemer, Ph.D.,
  Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
• Laura Lazzeroni, Ph.D.,
  Associate Professor (Research) of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
• Douglas Levinson, M.D.
  Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
  
• James Lock, M.D., Ph.D.,
  Professor and Associate Chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and, by courtesy, Professor of Pediatrics
• Robert C. Malenka, M.D., Ph.D.,
  Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
• Rachel Manber, Ph.D.,
  Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
• Vinod Menon, Ph.D.,
  Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and by courtesy, of Neurology
• Emmanuel Mignot, M.D., Ph.D.
  Professor of Sleep Medicine in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
  
• Ruth O'Hara, Ph.D.,
  Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
• Theo Palmer, M.D., Ph.D.,
  Associate Professor of Neurosurgery
  
• Natalie Rasgon, M.D., Ph.D.,
  Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
• Allan Reiss, M.D.,
  Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Professor of Radiology
• Alan F. Schatzberg, M.D.,
  Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
• David Spiegel, M.D.,
  Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
• Patricia Suppes, M.D., Ph.D.,
  Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
• Leanne Williams, Ph.D.,
  Professor (Research) of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Didactic Courses

1. Research Application and Funding
   The aim of the course is to introduce the fellows to various sources of funding and types of grant, and to the art of grant writing particularly focused on the K-award. The course is conducted in the Winter quarter each year. After an organizational session, two sessions are devoted to funding sources and to a detailed presentation on applying for a K-award. These sessions are followed by presentations from each fellow encompassing either a research plan, a report of their ongoing research, or an idea for a grant application such as the K-award. Fellows are encouraged to write a Specific Aims page for their project for discussion in the seminar. At each presentation, the fellows and faculty offer constructive criticism of the plan, or the ongoing research. Hence, the seminar covers research design, issues of participant recruitment, entry characteristics, methodological issues, statistical issues, ethical issues, the presentation of study results and conclusions, all in ways directly relevant to a particular research topic. Fellows also gain skills in the presentation and interpretation of data. In addition, each fellow is exposed to a variety of different research topics and methods, and it is not unusual for collaborations between fellows to emerge from such presentations. 
2. Responsible Conduct of Research (MED 255)
   This course is offered during the Fall, Winter and Spring and is required for all Fellows. The Responsible Conduct of Research course is designed to engage participants in productive discussions about ethical issues that are commonly encountered during their research careers. This course is required for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars who are supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, and many departments and programs also recommend this course as part of their curricula. A class schedule can be found here.
3. Methodology of Research in the Behavioral Sciences (PSYC 250)
   Psyc250 focuses on methodological issues in three major psychiatric research themes: clinical psychiatric research, neuroimaging research, and genetic studies taught over three quarters. The Fall Quarter series is designed as an overview of statistical and methodological issues in clinical psychiatric research, with an emphasis on longitudinal data analysis.  The Winter quarter covers basic and advanced methodologies in neuroimaging research focusing specifically on data analysis methods. The Spring quarter addresses both statistical genetics and general statistical modeling in genetics.

Applications

The application deadline is January 8, 2018.

Requirements

M.D. and M.D./Ph.D. applicants must have completed an approved residency program. M.D. and M.D./PhD applicants should have completed clinical training in psychiatry, behavioral neurology, or behavioral pediatrics. In specific circumstances, clinical training credit for the PGY-4 year may be arranged.

Ph.D. applicants must have completed:

1. an APA- or CPA-accredited graduate program
2. an APA- or CPA-accredited internship
3. all requirements for their Ph.D. prior to beginning their appointment.
4. Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents.

To Apply

Before applying, candidates must contact a program faculty or other faculty listed on the departmental website (http://psychiatry.stanford.edu) to discuss potential mentorship in their area of interest.

Applications closed as of January 7, 2019.

You will be asked to provide information and upload 2 PDF files:

1. A cover letter specifying a clearly identified area of interest and indicating a specific mentor(s). Please also include in the cover letter the names of the three individuals you have asked to provide letters of recommendations
2. Curriculum Vitae

After you complete the application, the three individuals you listed as references will receive an automated e-mailed with instructions for uploading the letters of recommendation (as PDF files). It is suggested that one letter be from your proposed mentor at Stanford.