T32 in Genomic Medicine

General Overview

The T32 Genomic Medicine Training Program at the University of Utah prepares postdoctoral trainees to be well-rounded, collaborative leaders in genomic medicine. This two-year basic research track training program consists of coursework, a mentored research experience, experiential learning activities, extensive interactions with a broad community of genomic medicine researchers, and career development activities.

A mentored genomic medicine research experience in a team science environment is the heart of the training program. Each trainee will have a multidisciplinary mentoring committee, drawn from a mentor pool of MD and PhD genomic medicine researchers. This highly collaborative mentor community possesses expertise in the many disciplines that underpin genomic medicine, including human genetics, bioinformatics, epidemiology, statistics, molecular diagnostics, and pharmacogenomics.

Trainees will benefit from several unique resources and collaborators in the Center for Genomic Medicine. Each of these will provide immersion opportunities in genomic medicine.

The Utah Genome Project, an independently funded research project in which thousands of members of large Utah disease pedigrees are undergoing whole-genome sequencing.
The Utah Center for Genetic Discovery, the University’s computational genomics engine and hub for development of software tools and algorithms for genome interpretation.
ARUP Laboratories, the University’s national reference lab and a leader in developing genomics-based clinical diagnostic tests.
The Penelope Program, the University’s clinic for rare and undiagnosed disease, which is part of the Undiagnosed Disease Network.
The Utah NeoSeq Project, an initiative to bring rapid whole genome sequencing to the neonatal intensive care unit.
The Huntsman Cancer Institute, a National Cancer Institute Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and home to extensive cancer genomics and precision oncology projects.

The overall goals of the T32 program are:

To teach trainees to apply cutting-edge bioinformatics and computational tools to analyze genomic datasets.
To work productively with interdisciplinary teams in the clinical application of genomic data.
To protect and communicate effectively with research participants.
To advance an independent research career in genomic medicine.

Acknowledgement: The University of Utah Postdoctoral Training Program in Genomic Medicine is supported by an institutional training grant (T32HG008962) from the National Human Genome Research Institute of the National Institute of Health

Policies

The primary criteria for selection will be 1) scientific excellence and 2) relevance of the proposed research to the field of genomic medicine.
Support is provided for a maximum of 2 years. Second year support is subject to evaluation by the training grant steering committee.
NIH requires that trainees be U.S. citizens, U.S. noncitizen national, or a permanent resident of the U.S.
Candidates must be within five years of completing their training for a doctoral-level degree (MD, MD/PhD, or PhD). Trainees must also have obtained their MD, MD/PhD, or PhD degrees prior to receiving funding from this training grant.
Candidates must not have had prior Kirschstein-NRSA postdoctoral support.
Trainees must identify a mentoring team that includes one basic scientist, one physician-scientist, and one additional mentor from the mentor pool to enhance the trainee’s preparation for his/her career goals. Mentor teams will meet with the trainee twice yearly. (See website for list of eligible mentors)
Trainees will be required to submit regular training program evaluations as directed by T32 administrators.

Overview of Training Program

In addition to the mentored genomic medicine research experience, trainees will benefit from a customizable program of coursework and immersion/career development activities.

Coursework

	Offering	Options	Duration & Recommended Time of Participation
Required	Responsible Conduct of Research Training	MDCRC 6430 MBIOL 7570 VPR Office, RCR Certificate	Anytime
	Genetics and Medicine: Ethical, Legal and Social Issues	HGEN 6700	Full Semester, Y2
	Grant Writing Course	MDCRC 6450 REd Grant Writing Workshop	Full Semester, Y2
	Computational Genomics	HGEN 6060 PED 5750	Full Semester, Y1
Optional	Summer Immersion Courses	MDCRC 644 MDCRC 600 MDCRC 601 MDCRC 603 MDCRC 604	4-Weeks, Summer, Y1

*If there are specific knowledge gaps, trainees are encouraged to participate in four-week summer immersion courses: Medical Genetics for Clinical Investigators (MDCRC 644), Introduction to Epidemiology (MDCRC 601), Introduction to Biostatistics (MDCRC 600), Clinical Research Data Management (MDCRC 602), and Computer Practicum (MDCRC 603). This will be discussed with the trainee at the time of the award.

Immersion & Professional Development Activities

	Training Offering	Duration & Recommended Time of Participation
Required	UGP Genome Rounds	Monthly, Y1 and Y2. Present annually.
	Variant Interpretation Workshop	3 Days, Summer, Y2
	NHGRI Networking Meeting	3 Days, Y1 and Y2
	ARUP Rotation	1 Week, Spring/Summer, Y1
	Individual Development Plans	Ongoing
	Clinical Genomic Medicine Rotation*	3 Months, Spring Y1 or Y2
Optional	Annual CGM Symposium	1 Day, Spring Y1 & Y2
	Annual Frontiers in Precision Medicine Symposium	1 Day, Spring Y1 & Y2
	Human Genetics Interest Group	Ongoing
	Human Genetics Seminar Series	Ongoing
	Trainees as Mentors**	Ongoing

* Examples of Clinical Genomic Medicine Rotation

University of Utah and Primary Children’s Hospital’s weekly meetings of the undiagnosed disease program
Huntsman Cancer Institute oncology gene review weekly meetings
Huntsman Cancer Institute cancer genetics case review weekly meetings
Pediatric Genetics Case Management meetings
Pediatric Genetics Grand Rounds

**Trainees have the opportunity to serve as career mentors to trainees from two additional NHGRI-supported training programs: The Genomics Summer Research for Minorities (GSRM) Internship and The Graduate and Undergraduate Researchers of UCEER (GURU), led by Drs. Yost and Botkin, respectively.

Call for Applications: OPEN

We are soliciting applications for 4 Postdoctoral position on the T32 in Genomic Medicine Training Grant. Training slots are tentatively scheduled to begin June 1st, 2023. All interested parties are encouraged to apply.

We are particularly interested in applications from under represented and minority trainees. To be eligible, candidates must be either a US citizen, or Permanent Resident, and have a Primary Mentor at the University of Utah. Applications must be submitted by Wednesday, April 11, 2023 @ 5:00 PM MST. Download a flyer here, with full submission details listed at the end of the document.

Application Requirements

Cover letter. Please include a personal statement describing your career goals and how the T32 training program requirements (e.q., coursework, experiences) will help you fufill your career goals.
Your curriculum vitae, including the following: (1) List of all publications to date; (2) Degree(s) earned, including both the month and year earned; (3) Research experience and other positions, including both the month and year of each start/end date; (4) Identify any prior NRSA support
A short (maximum 3 pages), carefully thought out summary of your proposed research Summarize the problem (include some strategic literature references), preliminary data, and the research goals for your tenure as a postdoctoral trainee on the training grant. There is a limit of four pages, excluding references and figures. Font must be 11 pt Arial, with 1 inch margins.
Applicants must provide a letter of support from their primary mentor. In addition, the applicant must assemble a team of two additional mentors to serve in an advisory capacity, and letters of support should be provided from these faculty mentors as well. In total, three supporting letters, one from each member of your mentoring team.
Applications should be submitted as a single pdf file, sent electronically to andrew.pannier@genetics.utah.edu.

Eligibility Requirements

NIH requires that trainees be U.S. citizens, U.S. noncitizen national or a permanent resident of the U.S.
Candidates must be within five years of completing their training for a doctoral-level degree (MD, MD/PhD, or PhD).
Candidates must not have had prior Kirschstein-NRSA postdoctoral support.

Selection Criteria

The primary criteria for selection will be 1) scientific excellence and 2) relevance of the proposed research to the field of genomic medicine.
Support is provided for a maximum of 2 years. Second year support is subject to evaluation by the training grant steering committee.

Mentors

Our large community of MD and PhD mentors are experts in the many disciplines that underpin genomic medicine, including human genetics, bioinformatics, epidemiology, statistics, molecular diagnostics, and pharmacogenomics. Trainees must identify a mentoring team that includes one basic scientist, one physician-scientist, and one additional mentor from the mentor pool to enhance the trainee’s preparation for his/her career goals. Mentor teams will meet with the trainee twice yearly. Mentors are listed below.

Interested in becoming a mentor? Email andrew.pannier@genetics.utah.edu with an updated NIH Biosketch and a brief paragraph of your research interests as they relate to the program goals.