Neuroinfectious Disease

Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship in Neuroinfectious Diseases at Columbia University Irving Medical Center for Physician-Scientists from Low Income or Lower Middle Income Countries

The Department of Neurology at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer and educator. For more information about our mission to ensure a diverse and inclusive community, please visit our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Program.

Welcome to the Fellowship Training Program in neuroinfectious diseases.

Our Program

  • Clinical research trainees will be supported as a clinical research trainee at Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC, New York, New York) for one to two years and will facilitate mentored research projects in neuroinfectious diseases. In addition to being involved in routine research activities, the candidate will be expected to identify and develop a research proposal around a neuroinfectious disease topic relevant to their LIC/LMIC region and apply for a career development award during their time at CUIMC.
  • Adjunctive clinical training in neuroinfectious diseases and other facets of clinical neurology will be provided to the trainee, though the expectation is that the trainee will focus on their development as a researcher.
  • Ongoing research support and structured guidance will be provided through mentorship and faculty engagement established at CUIMC while the individual is conducting their research projects. This will be for the duration of the research project and early career development and will include support to produce scientific literature and develop infrastructure in country. A major fundamental priority will be to establish funding support to build individual and institutional research capacity in the LIC/LMIC institution.

Program Objectives

  • To develop rigorous clinical research training opportunities and career development activities for a cadre of LIC/LMIC scientists and health research professionals to strengthen the capacity to conduct independent, sustainable neuroinfectious disease research at an LIC/LMIC institution.
  • To provide mentored training-related neuroinfectious disease research experience that is directly relevant to the health priorities of the LIC/LMIC.
  • To strengthen the capabilities of trainees at LIC/LMIC institutions to lead, manage and train others in neuroinfectious disease research.

The research fellow will have the opportunity to develop:

  1. A strong foundation in clinical research design, methods, and analytic techniques appropriate for the proposed neuroinfectious disease research area and epidemiology;
  2. The enhancement of the trainee’s ability to conceptualize and think through research problems with increasing independence;
  3. Experience conducting neuroinfectious disease clinical research as well as trainees presenting and publishing their research findings;
  4. The opportunity to interact with members of the scientific community at appropriate scientific meetings and workshops; and
  5. The enhancement of the trainees' understanding of the health-related sciences and the relationship of their research training to health and disease.

Requirements and Eligibility

  • Medical graduate with citizenship, residing and working in a low income or lower middle-income country as defined by the World Bank.
  • Individuals who have dual citizenship or permanent residency in the U.S., other high-income countries or ineligible countries are not eligible. For 2023-2024, the position will be offered remotely, with the trainee residing in their home country. The trainee will be closely connected to the team at CUIMC via zoom, attending routine research meetings and participating in research activities, and will have the opportunity to attend a plethora of educational conferences remotely. The trainee will also be supported to conduct local research efforts. Salary support will be provided. There is an opportunity to the research fellow to be supported for part time fellowship activities if there are established local clinical/administrative roles.
  • English language proficiency is required.

Apply

Please inquire to Kiran Thakur, MD at ktt2115@cumc.columbia.edu for application processes and deadlines.

  • Personal Statement describing scientific and medical background including any background/training in neurological diseases and research, how the fellowship will fit into local research goals and particular areas/diseases of interest in neuroinfectious diseases
  • CV
  • Three letters of reference preferably from senior faculty with whom the candidate has worked with clinically and/or scientifically, statement describing current position/faculty appointment, description of the facility working in/training in terms of research and clinical capacity
  • Letter from the hospital director and head of department stating that there is a commitment of the institution to support fellowship activites
  • A phone/video interview will be conducted with select applicants
  • There will not be a formal degree obtained at the conclusion of the program
  • Please send complete application materials to Kiran Thakur, MD at ktt2115@cumc.columbia.edu. Please email Dr. Thakur regarding timeline of available positions.

Fellowship Faculty

The candidate will work closely with Kiran Thakur, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology at CUIMC, senior faculty with clinical research expertise in the Neurology department and across departments (Infectious Diseases, Sergievsky Center, etc), and the Mailman School of Public Health, on clinical and translational research studies.