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Northwestern University Allergy Immunology Research Program (NUAIR)

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Information for trainees

Trainees will be recruited from a pool composed of fellows (MD trainees) and PhD trainees who have been working in the Divisions of Allergy-Immunology and in the laboratories of our preceptors

Criteria for selection of NUAIR T32 MD and PhD postdoctoral candidates

  • Review of application material (research proposal, [ individual development plan ], resume, personal statement letters of support, and interview) indicating a record of perseverance, excellence and achievement.

  • Productive and creative research experiences (publications and abstracts) where the trainee contributed intellectually.

  • Excellent performance in the first year of clinical training in the fellowship (for MDs) or in the lab (for PhDs).

  • Research project proposal: chances of success and potential impact in the field of allergy-immunology and demonstrated translational focus.

  • Interview evaluations.

  • Match of trainee with mentoring team (basic research mentor and clinical research mentor).

  • Commitment to a research-oriented career.

  • Preference will be given to MD trainees. We will aim at selecting 2 MD and 1 PhD trainees a year, but will have the flexibility to select 1 MD and 2 PhD trainees depending on the quality of applicants. 

Milestones of training for T32 NUAIR trainees

  • Submit an abstract to a national meeting yearly.

  • Submit an application for a K award (K08, K23, or K99/R00) and a non-NIH application (e.g. Medical Society, Foundation) in the second year.

  • Submit at least one manuscript as first author based on her/his own research project.

  • Submit at least another manuscript during the 2 years of research training (co-author in another collaborative work, in a review, in a chapter, etc).

  • For MD trainees: maintain clinical skills and pass the American Board of Allergy and Immunology.

  • Apply for an academic position in the second year of training.

  • Actively participate in teaching in the Division lectures, didactic activities, and Immunology Annual Retreat.

Successful Participation and Program Evaluation

Expectations for NUAIR T32 trainees’ performance

  • Dedicate to research >75% effort, or > 30 hours per week. Mentors and trainee will monitor trainee’s effort load so that they spend > 30 hours per week in hands-on research, working in the bench or clinical lab.

  • Meet the milestones described in Milestones of Training.

  • Lectures, course work, clinical work and all other activities must not prevent the trainee from dedicating > 30 hours per week to hands-on research.

  • Attend the following Divisional Lectures on a weekly basis: Allergy-Immunology Laboratory Meeting (Monday 12-1PM), Allergy-Immunology Journal Club (Tuesdays 1:30 – 2:30PM), and Allergy-Immunology Research conference (Fridays 12-1PM).

  • Attend and present at these annual meetings: Northwestern Immunology Retreat, Autumn Immunology Conference, and a national meeting, preferably that of the American Academy of Allergy and Immunology.

  • Trainees must participate in the educational and self-improvement (evaluations, committees, etc) activities of the NUAIR program.

  • Trainees must be collegial and promote collaborative research among peers. In addition, they must conduct themselves with the highest degree of integrity, professionalism and respect for all members of the workplace.

Training Program Evaluation

  • Preceptor/mentor evaluation of trainee: To be administered every 3 months.

  • Trainee evaluation of mentors: To be administered every 6 months.

  • Trainee evaluation of the program: To be administered every 12 months.

  • Preceptor/mentor evaluation of the program: To be administered every 12 months.

  • Two-year Post-graduation Survey: Trainees will be sent a survey 2 years after they graduated from the T32 NUAIR program to assess the effectiveness of their training and request suggestions to improve the training to better prepare them for success in academics as a junior faculty.

The Executive Committee members and the program coordinator will administer and review these evaluations. They will also provide timely feedback to trainees and preceptors. The evaluation summaries will be discussed at the meetings of the Advisory Boards and Recruitment and Retention Committee.

The overall success of the T32 NUAIR program will be measured based on our goal of placing at least 60% of our trainees in research positions such as those in academics, industry, military, or government agencies.