Training Program
The faculty of the Vermont Center for Immunology and Infectious Diseases has extensive experience in training graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, clinical fellows desiring research experience, as well as undergraduates at UVM who want to do an honors program. In addition there are numerous opportunities to overlap training interests with researchers in other programs, such as the Vermont Lung Center working on asthma, and the Vermont Cancer Center. Please refer to the faculty page for a listing of individual research interests.
Undergraduate Research Opportunities
This can be conducted individually with an investigator as an honors thesis, or through summer projects coordinated by the Office of Fellowships, Opportunities, and Undergraduate Research (FOUR).
Graduate Research Opportunities
Graduate students in Immunobiology are part of the UVM Cellular, Molecular, and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program (CMB). Students are provided a competitive stipend and health benefits. Students have ample opportunity to present their research at weekly laboratory meetings of all the Immunobiology staff, as well as at the weekly CMB seminar series. There are on average about 40 students in this program and most have gone on to very competitive laboratories for their postdoctoral work. A T32 NIH Training Grant in Immunology and Infectious Diseases supports a number of graduate students. Students can also perform their research with research faculty at the nearby Trudeau Institute in Saranac Lake, NY.
Postdoctoral Research Opportunities
There are several postdoctoral fellows in the Vermont Center for Immunology and Infectious Diseases. Postdoctoral fellows apply directly to the laboratory director. Nearly all of our postdoctoral fellows have competed successfully for postdoctoral fellowships from NIH or research foundations. There is also support available from the COBRE grant.
Clinical Fellows Research Opportunities
We have frequently had clinical fellows from the medical center spend research time in our laboratories. Some have received prestigious NIH K08 awards that provide them with up to 5 years of laboratory training to help with the transition to faculty appointment. Many of these are from the programs in Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology or Infectious Diseases. Residents interested in Rheumatology should contact the Fellowship Director, Dr. Bonita Libman; (802) 847-0764; whereas those interested in Infectious Diseases should contact Dr. Christopher Grace; (802) 847-2264.