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Program Features

Selected trainees will receive:

• NIH NRSA stipend support based on NIH-established training levels.
• Tuition support for required coursework. ($4,500 per trainee)
• Travel support to attend and present at scientific meetings and conferences. ($1,500 per trainee)
• Training-related support, including health insurance and educational expenses. ($12,500 per trainee)
• Childcare Allowance ($3,000 per trainee)
• Individualized mentorship from experienced faculty mentors and research leaders.
• Dedicated biostatistical support.
• Structured career development planning and leadership training
• Access to seminars, journal clubs, research works-in-progress sessions, retreats, and career development workshops.
• Guidance in manuscript preparation, grant writing, and preparation for future NIH K awards and other career development funding opportunities.

Appointment to the T32 is intended to provide substantial protected time for research, career development, and training activities. Candidates already associated with departments at the University of Rochester should discuss departmental support and protected effort expectations with their mentor prior to applying. Candidates who are not working with one of our GROWS-BPS T32 mentors will need to identify a GROWS-BPS mentor or have their current mentor contact Drs. Kluger or Epstein about becoming an official T32 mentor. Candidates can continue working with other mentors as co-mentors, secondary mentors, or advisors.

Application Materials

For each candidate nominated for this training grant, the candidate, in collaboration with their mentor, should prepare and submit the following materials:

• Candidate CV/NIH biosketch (NIH SciENcv format preferred)
• Primary mentor NIH biosketch (NIH SciENcv format preferred)
• Mentor other support document (NIH format preferred)
• Letter of support from the primary mentor
• Candidate cover letter describing:
  • Research interests
  • Career goals
  • How participation in the T32 will support long-term career development
• Research Proposal (maximum 1 page), including:
  • Specific aims
  • Significance and anticipated impact
  • Relevance to the goals of the training program
  • Alignment with improving outcomes for older adults with serious illness, family caregivers, healthcare delivery, or related biopsychosocial factors influencing health and wellbeing
• Name of primary mentor(s) and (if relevant) other mentors or  advisory committee members

Eligibility

To be eligible for appointment, candidate must:

• Hold a doctoral degree (MD, DO, PhD, DNP, PsyD, or equivalent)
• Demonstrate a commitment to a research-focused career
• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, as required by NIH NRSA training grant regulations
• Identify one or more potential mentors from our list of active mentors

How to Apply

Please submit all application materials and any questions about the application process to laurel_buchanan@urmc.rochester.edu. 

If you have questions about the program, training, research, or need guidance for your application, please contact: benzi_kluger@urmc.rochester.edu, and ronald_epstein@urmc.rochester.edu no later than August 14, 2026.

Selection Process

Applications will be reviewed by Program Leadership and an Internal Advisory Committee. Selection criteria include:

• Potential for a successful independent research career
• Scientific merit of the proposed research
• Relevance to the goals of the training program
• Strength of the mentoring environment
• Academic and research accomplishments to date
• Potential for meaningful impact on the lives of older adults and family caregivers
• Commitment to a research-focused career pathway 
• Match with one of our active mentors

Mentor Expectations

Mentors are expected to:

• Provide active mentorship and career guidance throughout the appointment period
• Meet regularly with trainees and support development of an individualized training plan
• Assist trainees in developing manuscripts, presentations, and grant applications
• Participate in training grant activities, including trainee reviews and program evaluations, as appropriate
• Follow best-practice mentoring approaches and participate in mentorship training opportunities
• Ensure NIH Public Access compliance for publications resulting from trainee-supported work. 

Trainee Expectations

Appointments are initially made for one year, with continuation contingent upon satisfactory progress and active participation in program activities.

Trainees are expected to:

• Participate in required coursework and training activities
• Attend program seminars, works-in-progress sessions, journal clubs, and retreats
• Meet regularly with their mentor team
• Conduct an original research project aligned with the goals of the training program
• Submit periodic progress reports
• Present their work at scientific meetings
• Publish manuscripts resulting from their research
• Complete NIH-required training in responsible conduct of research
• Actively pursue career development and future funding opportunities.
• Complete activities of T32 within 2-years for trainees coming in with more research experience and within 3-years for those with minimal research background.

As a benchmark for progress, trainees are expected to:

• Publish approximately three manuscripts per year
• Present at least one national or international scientific meeting annually
• Submit at least one grant application during each year of support.
• For trainees coming in with minimal research experience, these expectations may be waived for the first year of anticipated 3-year program.

Publications and Acknowledgement

All publications, presentations, abstracts, posters, and other scholarly products resulting from work supported by NIH Training Grant T32AG092335 must appropriately acknowledge NIH support and comply with NIH Public Access requirements. Compliance with NIH Public Access policy is critical for annual progress reporting and future competing renewals.

Please feel free to share this opportunity with eligible candidates and mentors who may be interested.

Thank you for your support of the next generation of aging and serious illness researchers.

Best regards,

Benzi Kluger, MD
Ron Epstein, MD
Program Directors
GROWS-BPS T32 Postdoctoral Research Training Program (T32AG092335)