Accordingly, this research fellowship program is open to outstanding students who are interested in scientific disciplines relevant to health and mental health. For undergraduates, the program's duration is one academic year, from September through August, or January through December. Medical students generally are expected to begin the program in June or July, with some exceptions where students have begun the program in September or January. In order to assess the program's long term outcome, the students agree to provide brief follow up information on their academic and career development. Follow up contacts will be done for a period of ten years subsequent to completion of the program, including 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year evaluations.
Undergraduates in the program will have the opportunity to:
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Conduct supervised laboratory and clinical research in cooperation with faculty researchers in psychiatry, neuroscience, psychology, biology, chemistry, and other relevant mental health and health sciences;
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Participate in two special courses: "The Functional Organization of the Human Nervous System" and "Contemporary Issues in Mental Health;"
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Become familiar with a diverse range of psychiatric disorders via observation in outpatient and inpatient clinical settings, as well as through assigned readings and dialogue with mentors and members of the training faculty;
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Gain familiarity with state-of-the-art clinical and laboratory facilities in psychiatry, psychopharmacology, neuroradiology (e.g., PET and MRI), genetics, and chronobiology (e.g., sleep, endocrine, and temperature rhythms); and
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Learn about and discuss critical ethical issues related to research with humans and animals.
Medical students in the program will have the opportunity to:
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Conduct a year-long research project in the preceptor's lab, for approximately 25-30 hours a week;
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Enroll in two research-oriented courses, relevant to their area of study;
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Complete a statistics course, if not previously taken;
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Attend various lectures and meetings offered by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, including the "WPIC Wide Journal Club Meeting", and the "AOC" meetings.