CIRWH Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Reproductive Health Program

CIRWH administers a nationally recognized postdoctoral fellowship in reproductive health supported by an institutional training grant (T32HD055163) from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development. Up to three fellows may be accepted. A two-year commitment to the program is required. To enable fellows to become proficient, independent clinical investigators, a structured core curriculum is offered that includes didactic, small group interaction, and experiential learning activities. Specifically the curriculum includes:

  • Needs assessment and development of an individualized development plan with a primary mentor
  • Mentored research activities
  • Completion of core didactic experiences in clinical research methods (including research ethics), formal coursework in statistics and epidemiology when needed
  • Individualized support of fellows' writing, quantitative skills and career development

Faculty

There are a number of faculty associated with the fellowship program including obstetricians/gynecologists, epidemiologists, biostatisticians, psychologists, and experts in public health. The principal investigator of the training program is Abbey B. Berenson, MD, PhD, Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Director of the UTMB Center of Interdisciplinary Research in Women's Health (CIRWH).

Abbey Berenson, MD, PhD joined the UTMB Health faculty in 1989 with a dual appointment in the Departments of Pediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynecology. She has built a strong national reputation for her research programs at UTMB Health in sexual abuse, contraception, and bone health. Dr. Berenson has published over 200 peer-reviewed, patient-oriented research articles and is frequently sought out as an invited speaker. She has served on advisory panels to the FDA and CDC and has obtained funding as principal investigator from a number of federal agencies including National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and the Department of Defense. She is also the Director of the UTMB Health BIRCWH Program, a career development program for junior faculty, aimed a facilitating independent research careers in women's health.

Campus Environment

UTMB Health is the third oldest medical school in the U.S. Established in 1891, UTMB Health is a major academic medical center with 77 main buildings, covering 99 acres. The campus includes four schools (Medicine, Nursing, Allied Health Sciences, and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences) and two institutes for advanced study. There are 1147 full-time faculty members, 934 within in the School of Medicine. Resources include a major medical library, a network of hospitals and clinics that provide a full range of primary and specialized medical care, an affiliated Shriner's Burns Hospital, numerous dedicated research facilities, and several recognized centers, including the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Women's Health. The university is located on beautiful, historic Galveston Island. Galveston boasts over 32 miles of beaches, 13 museums and historic homes, and The Strand National Historic Landmark District with over 95 shops, antique stores, restaurants, and art galleries. Check out the UTMB Living website for more information on the region.

Stipend

Stipend levels depend on years of related experience. Support is also given for formal coursework and to attend at least one national meeting per year.

Application Requirements

The program is designed to strengthen and extend research training for individuals who have obtained a MD degree or PhD in epidemiology, biostatistics, public health, medical sociology, health services research, community health research, or a related field. A two-year commitment to this position is required. Please note that this is not a clinical fellowship. Postdoctoral positions are temporary appointments.

Application Procedures

Please forward the requested documents to Abbey Berenson, MD, PhD. Please note that applicants may be asked at a later date to provide an academic transcript from graduate/undergraduate institutions.

  1. Completion of the Application Face Page (PDF)
  2. Current curriculum vitae
  3. A list of three references with contact information (three letters of support should be sent under separate cover)
  4. Written description of research training background and current research interests
  5. Representative reprints if available

Applications are accepted for open positions. We will initiate telephone interviews with selected applicants. Upon identifying the most competitive candidates, we may conduct in-person interviews to assist faculty in making final decisions. At this time, candidates may be expected to have prepared a research talk to be delivered to core and affiliated faculty in a colloquium-style presentation. Final decisions will consider the overall strength and promise of the applicant, fit with the program objectives, and overlap of research interests with core faculty.

Contact Us

Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Women's Health
John Sealy Annex, Suite 3.108
University of Texas Medical Branch
Galveston, TX 77555-0587
Office: (409) 772-2417
Email Dr. Abbey Berenson