Two and three-month training fellowships: designed to provide an introduction to clinical research and stimulate the student to acquire further training in clinical research (ideally a one or two-year fellowship) before graduation. Most students will take 2-month fellowships between the end of their first year and the beginning of their second year in their respective professional school. Most students who take 3-month fellowships will be doing so as part of elective blocks in their final year.

PACCTR students in the 2-month summer fellowship are expected to work full-time for eight weeks and may not enroll in other summer courses or do other preceptorships. Students in the 3-month fellowship are expected to work for 12 weeks and likewise may not be enrolled in other activities. Students in the 3-month fellowship may take the fellowship in any quarter depending upon their rotations and the availability of their faculty mentor. However, they are required to have taken the introductory Designing Clinical Research (DCR) course at some point during the prior three years of medical school as a prerequisite or take it during their 3-month fellowship if is being taken during the summer quarter. Students in the 3-month fellowship who have already taken DCR will spend their entire 12 weeks working on a clinical research project.

Application forms

• 2-month summer fellowship
• 3-month quarterly fellowship
• Mentor Form

Mail transcripts and any other application materials directly to:

Cecily Hunter
185 Berry Street, Suite 5700
Box 0560
San Francisco, CA 94143-0560
Phone: 415-514-8021
Fax: 415-514-8150

Deadlines

• Two month summer fellowship:
  April 16, 2008
• Three month quarterly fellowships:
  Jan 16th, Apr 15th,
  July 15th, Oct 15th
  (4 months before start)

Application for either the 2 or 3-month fellowship requires identification of a faculty mentor and a description of the research project. The faculty research mentor for 2-month and 3-month fellowships must be a faculty member at UCSF in one of the four schools. The sponsor must have all of the resources needed for the proposed project (e.g., supplies, lab space, datasets, or computer access) at the time the application is submitted. Students are encouraged to interview several faculty members before choosing a sponsor. Students do not need to have an idea for a research project before they meet with a potential sponsor. Rather, we will encourage faculty sponsors to suggest one or more projects, to explain in broad terms what each would entail, and to suggest appropriate reading for each project (for example, a portion of a grant application or articles already published by the investigator on the same topic). In summary, the 2-month and 3-month fellowships will include enrollment in the DCR course and participation in a focused research project combined with other PACCTR activities.

Students taking a 2-month summer fellowship will be asked to begin the process of picking a mentor and designing their research project by late December or early January, with the application due mid-April.

For the 2-month and 3-month fellowships, after agreeing on a project, the student and faculty mentor will work together to develop a specific research plan and complete the application form. The faculty mentor is expected to give the student considerable help with the research plan portion of the application. In addition to discussing the project with the student and providing appropriate references, the mentor is expected to read and help write this section with the student.

Stipends:

• Two-month student fellowship = $3,454
• Three-month student fellowship = $5,181

Application Requirements

• Personal Statement (700 words or less, or approx. one single-spaced page)
• Research Plan Title (255 characters or less, including spaces)
• Research Plan Summary (250 words or less, or approx. 1/3 of single-spaced page)
• Research Plan (which is limited to two single-spaced pages is divided into three sections: a) Research Question, b) Background, and c) Study Design) (You should work closely with your mentor on writing the research plan)
• Research Plan Citations (700 words or less, or approx. one single-spaced page)
• Transcripts (professional school transcripts only, not undergraduate transcripts)
• Dean's Letter (The Dean should comment on your potential for scholarly achievement, elaborating, where appropriate, on such matter as scientific knowledge, performance as a student in independent study or in research-participation programs and ability to make sound judgments. In addition, the dean may describe pertinent personal characteristics such as perseverance, persistence in the face of obstacles, creativity, independence and motivation)
• Letters of reference (Two letters of reference from persons (other than the mentor or co-mentor on this application or dean) who are familiar with the applicant's talents and abilities and could comment on the applicant's promise and potential)
• Mentor Choice(s) See list of potential mentors
• Mentor's Endorsement (and co-mentor's if applicable) see below for details

The applicant is responsible for:

• Providing the mentor, co-mentor (if applicable), Dean and references with the information necessary for them to submit the required letters and other information. It is the applicant's responsibility to make sure that the mentor (co-mentor, if applicable), Dean and references have provided all required information by the application deadline.
• Obtaining Academic transcripts: (please provide, medical, dental, nursing or pharmacy school transcripts, undergraduate transcripts are not required.
• The Mentor's Endorsement: is required from the prospective mentor stating that he or she has read the proposal and is willing to supervise the research described if the project is selected for funding. This includes information on the mentor's plans for training the applicant, training experience, grant support, a brief curriculum vitae, and an evaluation of the applicant. The mentor’s endorsement form can be found at (mentor form). This should be completed by the mentor and e-mailed directly to Cecily Hunter at: cecily.hunter@ucsf.edu
• A copy of human or animal research approvals must also be submitted if necessary for the proposed research.

Students who apply to the PACCTR program for a position in either the 2-month or 3-month program may apply at the same time to funding sources specific to their own schools, such as:

• School of Medicine summer fellowship training program
• School of Dentistry T32 summer fellowship program

Timeline of Application Process

Two-month fellowship

• Students pick mentor and prepare project proposal: Late Dec/early Jan
• Application due: April 16th
• Students notified of decision: Mid-May
• Project and mentor revised (if needed): Late-May
• IRB Protocol submitted (if needed): Late-May
• Fellowship Begins: Early July

Three-month fellowship

• Students pick mentor and prepare project proposal: 6 months before start date
• Application due: Jan 16th, Apr 15th, July 15th, Oct 15th (4 months before start)
• Students notified of decision: 2.5 months before start date
• Project and mentor revised (if needed): 2 months before start date
• IRB Protocol submitted (if needed): 2 months before start date
• Fellowship Begins: Quarterly

Curriculum

The Clinical Research Workshop (CRW) consists of 3 courses including "Designing Clinical Research", "Responsible Conduct in Clinical Research", and "Building an Academic Career". The students who take short-term fellowships will all participate in the "Designing Clinical Research" (DCR) course. Taking the 3 courses that make up the CRW is prerequisite material for the more detailed ATCR Certificate and MCR Degree Programs. The objectives of CRW are: to understand the principles of clinical research; to plan a clinical research study; to recognize and resolve ethical dilemmas in clinical research; and to develop a plan for a career in clinical research.