NIMH T32 Research Fellowship in Geriatric Mental Health

This research fellowship, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, focuses on basic and applied research on older adults with serious mental illnesses as well as healthy aging. We seek talented post-doctoral scholars interested in developing a research career as an independent investigator focused on this population. Continuously funded for 30 years, many graduates from our fellowship program have gone on to become leaders in the field of geriatric mental health. More than 20 of our prior trainees have obtained K Awards or VA Career Development Awards, and many of them are now tenured faculty at UC San Diego or other major universities.

The fellowship setting is a multidisciplinary research environment (e.g., psychiatry, psychology, neuroscience, pharmaceutical science) that is part of a larger research training program within UC San Diego’s Division of Geriatric Psychiatry. The T32 Fellowship is also affiliated with the Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, the Center for Healthy Aging, and the Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute at UC San Diego.

This program offers multiple resources including large pools of people with serious mental illnesses as well as healthy comparison subjects across the adult lifespan, research labs for different biomarkers, databases with comprehensive longitudinal data collected over many years, expertise in data management and biostatistics, collaboration with Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medicine, Neurosciences, and Public Health at UC San Diego, long track record of federal and non-federal funding, and strong community outreach. The core faculty includes experts in geriatric psychiatry, neuropsychology, neuroimaging, blood-based and brain-related biomarkers, technology, statistics and methodology, geriatric medicine, bioethics, and psychosocial as well as pharmacological and other biological interventions. Fellows have access to a broad array of training opportunities at UC San Diego and the VA San Diego Healthcare System.

The Fellowships are for two years, with the possibility of a third year, and carry 12-month stipends in accordance with UC San Diego rates. Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents and have completed a doctoral degree in any relevant discipline. PhDs, MDs, MD/PhDs, and PharmDs with previous research experience are encouraged to apply. We especially welcome applications from individuals from underrepresented backgrounds. Applications will be considered until all positions are filled.

To apply, please submit a statement of research interests and CV to:

Elizabeth W. Twamley, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry (etwamley@health.ucsd.edu)