Train for a career in Alzheimer's disease and dementia research

Predoctoral trainees are PhD and MD/PhD students in the Medical Neuroscience Graduate Program at Stark Neurosciences Research Institute. Their training combines foundational neuroscience coursework with a modernized, multidisciplinary curriculum that includes required training in data science and a dedicated neurodegenerative diseases course, covering disease mechanisms, neuropathology, genetics, biomarkers, clinical presentation and drug-development strategies. Trainees are guided by a thesis advisory committee that includes faculty focused on Alzheimer's disease research using multidisciplinary approaches.

Postdoctoral trainees advance their independent research while participating in structured career-development programming. Fellows are encouraged to strengthen their quantitative foundation through data science coursework, present regularly in the Neurodegeneration Journal Club and Stark Seminar Series, and prepare competitive applications for independent fellowship and career-development funding. Postdocs are also welcomed into the Stark Postdoctoral Association, a trainee-led community that supports professional growth and scientific exchange. The training curriculum is built on the six core competencies defined by the National Postdoctoral Association: discipline-specific knowledge, research skill development, communication, professionalism, leadership and management, and the responsible conduct of research.

Across both the predoctoral and postdoctoral tracks, trainees:

• Receive personalized mentorship in experimental design, data analysis, and scientific writing from nationally recognized neurodegenerative disorders investigators.
• Participate in the weekly Stark Seminar Series, journal clubs and interlaboratory lab meetings that foster a collaborative, cross-disciplinary research culture.
• Gain hands-on experience with new disease models, advanced drug-discovery technologies and clinical research settings through the IU School of Medicine's NIA-funded centers.
• Develop grant-writing skills and receive support in pursuing NRSA F-series and K-series fellowship applications.
• Present their work at national meetings and publish in high-quality peer-reviewed journals.
• Complete formal training in the responsible conduct of research and rigorous, reproducible research practices.

• Competitive NIH standard NRSA stipend.
• Tuition and fee support for predoctoral trainees.
• Funding to present research at national scientific conferences.
• Individualized mentorship from a multidisciplinary faculty team and program leadership.
• Oversight and guidance from internal and external advisory committees of distinguished neurodegenerative disorders investigators.
• A collaborative training community spanning the Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, the Medical Neuroscience Graduate Program and the Stark Postdoctoral Association

Eligibility

• Predoctoral applicants must be enrolled PhD or MD/PhD students in the Medical Neuroscience Graduate Program (admitted through the Indiana Biomedical Gateway program) and working with a participating program faculty member.
• Postdoctoral applicants must be postdoctoral fellows working with a participating program faculty member.
• As required by NIH for T32 support, trainees must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
• Trainees are selected through a formal application reviewed by the program's Steering Committee.
  

Program Leadership and How to Apply

The program is led by faculty representing the basic, translational and clinical sciences, and is administered within the Stark Neurosciences Research Institute's neuroscience education program.

Trainee positions are filled through a formal application process overseen by the T32 Steering Committee. Prospective predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees interested in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias research are encouraged to reach out to learn about current openings. Please direct all questions regarding the program to mneuro@iu.edu.