STAR T32 - Training Program in Childhood Stress, Trauma, & Resilience

 

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The Childhood Stress, Trauma, & Resilience (STAR) T32 training program is an intensive research fellowship designed to prepare PhD and MD postdoctoral fellows to conduct cutting-edge, translational, developmentally-informed research on childhood stress, trauma and resilience, and is the only NICHD-funded training program within Brown Medical School. The STAR T32 program takes a broad approach to stress, adversity and traumas experienced by children and families and their impact on biobehavioral mechanisms and health outcomes across development. The T32 will enroll 12 postdoctoral fellows (2-3 per year) for two-year terms over the five-year award. Fellows will have a PhD in a behavioral health-related field (psychology, public health/epidemiology, neuroscience) or an MD in a related specialty (psychiatry, pediatrics, emergency medicine). The program embraces an apprenticeship model where fellows work closely with one of a broad base of exceptional faculty mentors conducting innovative, NIH-funded, translational research in STAR-related areas often involving diverse, underserved and disadvantaged populations.

The STAR T32 program will allow fellows to emerge as innovative and productive independent investigators through (i) intensive mentorship in an apprentice model by expert faculty mentors (ii) cutting-edge and foundational didactics, and (iii) formulation of an independent STAR research project and grant proposal. Mentors include PhDs and MDs with a breadth of research interests and transdisciplinary expertise from psychology and psychiatry to public health, pediatrics and emergency medicine. Fellows will also obtain focused didactic training covering four critical STAR domains: (a) exposures and trauma, (b) pathways and mechanisms, (c) health behaviors and outcomes, and (d) interventions and community partnerships to promote resilience. 

The fellows will also obtain rigorous foundational training in research design and statistics, grant-writing, responsible conduct of research, professional development, and cutting- edge methodological approaches. The program leverages a unique and long-standing training infrastructure and culture of collaboration within The Miriam Hospital and the Brown Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, allowing for a large base of trainee colleagues, faculty experts, didactics and support.

To maximize the opportunity to develop specific expertise, yet encourage exploration of new or complementary research areas, the STAR T32 employs a dual mentorship structure. This model matches fellows with a primary mentor in the stress, trauma, and resilience field. In addition, trainees match with a secondary mentor to provide additional perspective and training experiences. Learn more about the research interests of faculty mentors listed below.

CORE STAR T32 MENTORS
Laura Stroud, Co-Director, STAR Initiative, Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Audrey R Tyrka, Co-Director, STAR Initiative, Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior
Nicole R Nugent, Associate Director, STAR Initiative, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine
Stephanie Parade, Associate Director, STAR Initiative, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior

ADDITIONAL MENTORS
Michael F Armey, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior (Research)
Cynthia Battle, Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior​
Leslie Brick, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior

Larry K Brown, Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior

Margaret Bublitz, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Assistant Professor of Medicine
Linda L Carpenter, Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior
Mary A Carskadon, Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior​
Kate M Guthrie, Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Elissa Jelalian, Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Professor of Pediatrics
Daphne Koinis-Mitchell, Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior (Research), Professor of Pediatrics (Research)
Elizabeth L McQuaid, Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Professor of Pediatrics
Lindsay M Orchowski, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior (Research)
Noah S Philip, Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior
Megan L Ranney, Professor of Emergency Medicine, Professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice
Anthony Spirito, Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior
Rena R Wing, Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior

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Please email [email protected] with questions.