Programs

NIH Statistics in Microbiology Training Program

Fellowships for Ph.D. students in Biostatistics, Statistics, and Microbiology

The Ph.D. programs in Biostatistics, Statistics and Microbiology at the University of Iowa are currently accepting applications for NIH funded predoctoral fellowships.  The awards provide an annual stipend of a minimum of $21,180 in addition to partial coverage of tuition, fees, health insurance and travel. 

Fellowships for Ph.D. students in Biostatistics are available for students to augment their statistical training with basic training in microbiology, bioinformatics and infectious diseases.  In addition, similar fellowships for Ph.D. students in Microbiology or Immunology are also available for such students to augment their biological training with basic statistical training.

Requirements for fellowships include admission to the Ph.D. program in either Biostatistics, Microbiology, or Immunology at the University of Iowa, and have the support of their Ph.D. advisor in seeking additional training equivalent in Biostatistics.

Biostatistics and statistical methods for the medical and biological sciences are a rapidly expanding area with many exciting career opportunities.  The increasing complexity of research in the biological sciences, however, has made it increasingly important to incorporate basic biological training into graduate statistical and biostatistical programs.  Graduates from a doctoral program in biostatistics or statistics now need a solid understanding of basic modern biological concepts, and some familiarity with the language of biology, in order to assume a leadership role in medical and biological research. 

This NIH/NIGMS program provides such an opportunity for Ph.D. students in statistics and biostatistics to augment their statistical training with basic instruction in microbiology, including laboratory experience, providing a foundation for the study of infectious diseases caused by microorganisms. Training is also provided in basic bioinformatics and, should the trainee pursue research in bioinformatics, additional course work in genetics is available. 

The program also provides funding for microbiology and Immunology Ph.D. students to train in biostatistics in order to further the biological research in their Ph.D. thesis.

The University of Iowa, in addition to excellent research programs in statistics, biostatistics, and microbiology, is also home to strong research programs in the biological and mathematical sciences.  Fellows will have the opportunity to collaborate in a variety of funded research projects with established scientific investigators.

For an application or more information about this fellowship opportunity, contact:

Terry Kirk
Recruitment Coordinator
Department of Biostatistics
General Hospital C22
200 Hawkins Drive
The University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA 52242

Phone: 319-384-5016
E-mail: terry-kirk@uiowa.edu 

Program Director:

Dr. Kathryn Chaloner
Professor and DEO, Biostatistics
kathryn-chaloner@uiowa.edu

Ph.D. program contacts:

Biostatistics: biostatistics@uiowa.edu
Statistics: statistics@uiowa.edu
Microbiology: grad-micro-info@uiowa.edu

Department links:

Department of Biostatistics
Department of Statistics & Actuarial Science
Department of Microbiology
Department of Biological Sciences
Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
The Graduate College of The University of Iowa
The University of Iowa