PREDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS
Behavioral Science Training in Drug Abuse Research
PURPOSE: This Predoctoral program supports behavioral scientists in conducting their dissertation research and pursuing scientific careers in the areas of drug use/misuse and HIV/AIDS.
THE RESEARCH AND TRAINING EXPERIENCE: Predoctoral Fellows will work in New York City (see sponsoring organizations) to develop knowledge of and skills in drug abuse research through hands-on experience and formal training. Dissertations may be on any topic related to drug abuse and HIV/AIDS. Opportunities exist for working with senior project directors on current research projects. Examples of on-going projects include studies related to drug abuse and crime, intravenous drug use, HIV/AIDS, prenatal and maternal drug use, treatment of mentally ill drug abusers, co-occurring disorders, teen drug use and psychosocial health, and evaluations of drug treatment programs. Numerous data sets are available in these and other areas of drug abuse for developing thesis topics. In addition, Predoctoral fellows may enroll at universities in the New York City metropolitan area to take advanced courses on drug abuse research, related substantive topics, and research methodologies as deemed necessary to round out their professional expertise. Predoctoral fellowships are awarded throughout the year on a rolling admission basis; however, we attempt to award some of them at the beginning of the academic year—see predoctoral benefits and predoctoral application.
PREDOCTORAL BENEFITS: Fellows will receive an annual stipend of $20,772 (for the 2006 academic year), health insurance, tuition and fees at the university where they are pursuing their degree, and a modest amount for travel and research-related expenses. Predoctoral Fellowships are awarded initially for 12 months and are renewable for up to four more years.
PREDOCTORAL APPLICATIONS: Candidates should plan to conduct their doctoral research on drug abuse or HIV/AIDS topics and indicate a serious interest in a career in drug abuse and HIV/AIDS research. Be sure that you will be able to qualify — see Citizenship Requirement and Other Requirements. Minority candidates are especially encouraged to apply. Applicants may also wish to consider applying to other postdoctoral training programs funded by the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA).
Please submit a letter of interest, curriculum vita, and a publication or paper. Applications submitted via email are preferred: Bruce Johnson and to June Townes. Or see full contact information.
In the letter of interest, Predoctoral Applicants are asked to provide
answers to the following questions.
(1) What university or doctoral degree granting institution are you
currently attending? How many years and credits of doctoral coursework
have you completed?
(2) Have you completed all your coursework? If not, how many classes/credits
remain to be completed?
(3) Have you passed all your comprehensive exams and advanced to candidacy?
If not, what requirements do you have left to meet?
(4) Describe your progress regarding your dissertation? Have you prepared
and defended a proposal for your dissertation, if so when? Are you:
writing your proposal? collecting data? analyzing data? writing chapters?
Exactly how far along are you on your dissertation?
(5) Do you have an internship (or externship) requirement to meet as
part of your doctoral program? If so, have you met these requirement(s)
and if not when do you plan to do that?
(6) What is the (working) title of your dissertation? Please give a
one or two sentence abstract – no more.
(7) About when do you think you are likely to defend your dissertation?
(8) Are you working? Indicate the number of hours per week. Do you have
plans to continue working/teaching in the Fall? If so, about how many
hours? About how much will you earn in the next year.
(9) Will you be receiving any fellowships, stipends, etc. for the Fall
or Spring?
(10) Will you be taking out any loans to pay your tuition, living expenses,
etc.?
(11) Please give us an estimate of your tuition and fees for the upcoming
Fall and Spring. We must have an estimate of this – not necessarily
the exact amount – to consider you for an interview.
(12) Have you previously been supported by a National Research Service
Award (a T32 grant)? If so, what was the period of support?
PLEASE BE CONCISE – we will invite you for an interview to obtain more information if we feel it is warranted. If there is anything else you would like to add please feel free to elaborate after answering the previous nine questions.
NDRI is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer. Information for recruitment purposes only subject to approval of Executive Director.