Southern New England Partnership In Stroke Research, Innovation and Treatment (SPIRIT)
2025-2026 NIH StrokeNet Fellowship Announcement

The SPIRIT Regional Coordinating Center of NIH StrokeNet seeks a 2025-2026 fellow within its four academic centers (Hartford Healthcare, Northwell Health, Warren Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University (Rhode Island Hospital), and Yale School of Medicine) or corresponding performance sites, who will be funded $50,000 (salary and fringe inclusive) with 50% dedicated research time for one year while he or she learns methods for clinical research and completes a clinical research project. The intent of the StrokeNet training program is to enhance the education and career development of future stroke clinical researchers. Applicants must have an interest in clinical research and commit to participating fully in the StrokeNet Fellowship program.

The SPIRIT fellow will work with a StrokeNet co-investigator faculty mentor coupled with mentorship from SPIRIT’s Education Core Director, Dr. Walter Kernan (Yale), based on a training plan developed after selection. During the StrokeNet Fellowship training year (7/1/25-6/30/26), the trainee must: 1) attend (or participate asynchronously in all StrokeNet Grand Rounds, Professional Development Webinars, and Basic Science Journal Clubs; 2) participate in a Learning Community; 3) submit a research project synopsis; 4) present their research in progress at a StrokeNet meeting or webinar; 5) spend at least 50% of their time on research and research training; and 6) complete all program-related surveys during and after the program. At the end of the fellowship, fellows are expected to advance in their trajectory toward an independently funded career in research or have an interest in clinical research. For some, this will mean achieving an academic appointment and for others it will mean applying for an award to support research or career-development.
Eligible candidates include residents, fellows, post-doctoral associates, nurses, and junior faculty, within the SPIRIT institutions from any discipline (not just limited to vascular neurology). This could include neurosurgeons, epidemiologists, physical therapists, basic scientists, and any others that have a significant interest in a career in stroke research.

Application Requirements:
1. A cover letter that explains your interest in the fellowship, your qualifications for a career in research related to stroke research, and states your commitment to participating fully in the NIH StrokeNet training program.
2. A commitment letter from a proposed research mentor indicating that the mentor accepts this role, has assisted you in developing your proposal, and will commit to provide the necessary supervision over the duration of the fellowship. The letter should provide evidence of the mentor’s qualifications, including prior experience as a mentor, research accomplishments, and current research funding. The letter should detail how the mentor plans to oversee the fellow’s progress and provide assurance that he or she can spend adequate time on this activity.
3. A letter of recommendation from your current program director, fellowship director, or departmental chair. The letter must comment on your recent professional performance, qualifications for a career in research, and explanation of the program or department’s support for the applications. This letter must also indicate that you will have 50% of your time available to devote to fellowship activities. It must include a commitment from the chair to provide funds to supplement the StrokeNet award so that the candidate has a total of 50% time for research.
4. A two-page research proposal, inclusive, with: 1) Title; 2) Background; 3) Research Aims; 4) Hypothesis(es); 5) Methodology; 6) Expected Outcomes; and 7) References.
5. A curriculum vitae.

For instructions on preparing the proposal and plan, contact Ruth Arnold at [email protected].

Important Dates:
Application due: September 20, 2024.
Successful applicants notified: October 11, 2024
Fellowship starts July 1, 2025.