Research Collaborations

ITR Summer Fellowship Program

Advancing the Next Generation of Translational Scientists

The Institute for Translational Research (ITR) is committed to developing future leaders in translational science and neurology. At ITR, we aim to bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and real-world clinical impact. Our Summer Fellowship provides an immersive, hands-on training experience designed to introduce students to the full spectrum of translational research, with a strong emphasis on brain health, health disparities and community-engaged science.

Program Overview

The ITR Summer Fellowship offers a structured, mentored research experience that places fellows at the heart of active, multidisciplinary research teams. Throughout the program, fellows work alongside ITR faculty and staff across multiple research cores, gaining exposure to:

• Clinical Research Core – Engage directly with study participants, learn best practices for participant interaction and observe clinical workflows that support translational studies.
• Omics Core – Explore cutting-edge molecular and genetic approaches, including data generation and interpretation within multi-omics research.
• Neuroimaging Core – Gain insight into advanced imaging techniques, data acquisition and analysis pipelines used to study brain structure and function.

This cross-core experience allows fellows to understand how multi-disciplinary scientific domains integrate to advance discoveries from bench to bedside.

What Fellows Experience

• Mentored Research - Each fellow is paired with an ITR mentor who provides guidance, feedback and support throughout the summer. Fellows contribute to ongoing research projects, develop foundational research skills and build confidence working in a collaborative scientific environment.
• Shadowing Opportunities - Fellows observe clinical visits, research procedures and interdisciplinary team meetings. These shadowing experiences offer a behind-the-scenes look at how translational research operates in real time.
• Didactic Learning - Weekly didactic sessions introduce fellows to core concepts in translational science, health disparities research, ethics, data science and community engagement. These sessions are led by ITR experts and are designed to deepen scientific understanding while broadening professional development.
• Health Disparities Focus - A central component of the fellowship is understanding how social, environmental and structural factors influence health outcomes. Fellows learn how translational research can be leveraged to reduce disparities and improve health equity across populations.

Syllabus Example   

• Research Protocol/Overview of ITR Fellowship
• How to Conduct a Literature Review
• Shadow- Etiquette
• How to Read a Scientific Manuscript
• Diagnosing AD in Adults with Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Fundamentals of a Research Study (Protocol, recruitment [CBPR], IRB, Limitations, Recruitment, Disclosure)
• How to Design a Research Poster and Write a Research Paper
• Machine Learning. How Big Data is Analyzed
• Introduction to SAS/Descriptive Statistics
• The Genetics of Alzheimer’s Disease
• How to Request and Use HABS-HD Data Moving Forward
• CDR and Proteomic Profiles of AD in the Context of Health Disparities
• Neuroimaging in ADRDs: Basics and Applications
• Paper Review
• Epigenetics & Aging
• Clinical Trials from a Physician
• Regression
• Role of Genetics in Health Disparities: A Look at Common, Chronic Comorbidities and their Relation to Age-Related Diseases

Program Capstone: Research Poster Presentation

The culminating experience of the fellowship is the development and presentation of a research poster. Fellows synthesize the knowledge and skills gained throughout the summer to produce a professional-quality poster summarizing their project contributions, findings and insights. Posters are presented at a final showcase event attended by ITR faculty, staff and community partners.

Who Should Apply

The ITR Summer Fellowship is ideal for students interested in:

• Translational or clinical research
• Neuroscience, genetics, or biomedical science
• Psychiatry, neurology or family medicine
• Health disparities and community-engaged research
• Medical school or health-related careers

No prior research experience is required. Only curiosity, motivation and a commitment to learning.

Benefits Include:

• Lectures and one-on-one time with some of the world’s leading researchers in Alzheimer’s and Brain Aging.
• Guided development of a study aim, project and abstract.
• Paid costs for publication of an approved peer-reviewed journal article. 
• Fellowship certificate upon completing research and related requirements. 

Contact and Join Us

 

Fellowship Director

Lubnaa Abdullah, PsyD, ABPP
Assistant Professor
Department of Family Medicine

 

Applications will be available in the fall for next summer’s fellowship.