The exact structure of the research track and the amount of protected research time is tailored to the individual resident’s specific clinical interests, type of research, and career goals. In total, our program provides 12-14 months of protected research time distributed primarily between the PGY-3 and PGY-4 years. Once admitted to the program, residents will work with the program director and research mentors to design the optimal residency structure to support the residents' long-term career objectives.
Example timeline for research track residents:
PGY-1:
Goal: Identify area of research interest and potential mentors, attend mentor lab meetings when feasible given clinical duties, attend/present at scientific meetings
Example: Interested in brain stimulation, obtained clinical training in ECT and rTMS, published manuscripts from medical school, wrote case report/literature review from clinical rotations at Vanderbilt
PGY-2:
Goal: Identify and plan research project in mentor's lab and obtain necessary training, regular meetings with mentors, attend mentor lab meetings when feasible given clinical duties, attend/present at scientific meetings
Example: Attended course on functional connectivity analysis, conducted introductory neuroimaging project with mentor, began introductory rTMS project analyzing existing data
PGY-3:
Goal: Conduct independent research project in mentor's lab, regular meetings with mentors, attend/present at scientific meetings, career development
Example: Performed neuroimaging analysis, conference presentation, obtained training in grant writing, applied for NIH Loan Repayment Program
PGY-4:
Goal: Complete independent research project, manuscript preparation and publication, regular meetings with mentors, attend/present at scientific meetings, grant/fellowship applications
Example: Completed neuroimaging analysis, wrote manuscript and submitted for publication, conference presentations, applied for research fellowships
Click here to view Research Track Block Diagram