Educational Opportunities


NIDA Training Program in Drug Abuse Comorbidity, Prevention and Biostatistics (T32), Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine

Overview         

The NIDA Training Program in Drug Abuse Comorbidity, Prevention and Biostatistics provides outstanding training for both pre-doctoral and post-doctoral trainees in epidemiology research with an emphasis on interdisciplinary studies. The Training Program, established in 1999, offers two to three years of training at Washington University School of Medicine, which has a rich, 115-year history of success in research, education and patient care.

The NIDA Training Program is noted for its public health focus, encompassing prevention, treatment and comorbid conditions of drug use, abuse and dependence. It also strongly emphasizes training in the responsible conduct of science and community-based research. 

Exceptional Training 

Fellows develop practical research skills and learn basic epidemiological methods that can be applied to many disciplines. Fellows learn how to organize and manage population surveys, including design, data collection and data analysis. The Program also offers opportunities to write papers, review manuscripts for publication, teach, and participate in research.

 The Program is unique in that it offers support for a Master of Psychiatric Epidemiology degree (MPE) through Washington University School of Medicine. Requirements for the degree include: 30 hours of course credit, substantial research experience as certified by the mentor, and first authorship on a publishable paper as judged by the faculty.

 Program Objectives

 Our training program is guided by these fundamental objectives: 

• To increase opportunities for interdisciplinary research training with the broadest range of research opportunities for persons wishing to specialize in substance abuse research, 

• To train in areas of perceived shortage in drug abuse research (biostatistics, prevention, epidemiology, comorbidity, services research, infectious diseases, genetics, other public health risk factors such as high-risk sexual behaviors and violence, and assessment of substance use),

• To recruit and equip researchers from diverse academic backgrounds with the special skills needed to address challenging problems that relate specifically to drug use disorders, 

• To provide trainees with an apprentice-type education to master the skills needed to critically evaluate data and conduct every aspect of drug abuse research to become successful and independent investigators,

• To train individuals to maintain the highest ethical standards in their academic community and profession.

Admissions and Stipends

The Program attracts individuals from diverse backgrounds such as public health, social work, engineering, nursing, mathematics, psychology and anthropology. Individuals must have received, as of the start date of the appointment, a Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent domestic or foreign degree for the post-doctoral fellow. For pre-doctoral admission, we strongly suggest that the applicant has finished coursework and can begin writing the dissertation. Candidates must be U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals or have been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence at the time of the appointment. 

Stipend levels are determined by the National Institutes of Health; current ranges are available online at nih.gov. 

Faculty

 The Program’s faculty members are outstanding and interdisciplinary; all conduct active research, and many are leaders in their fields and are involved with major University initiatives.  Fellows choose a mentor from this diverse group and learn first-hand as research apprentices.

 Director
Linda B.Cottler, Ph.D., M.P.H.

Co-Director
Rumi K. Price, Ph.D., M.P.E.

Steering Committee
Linda B. Cottler, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Lee Hoffer, Ph.D., M.P.E.
Rumi K. Price, Ph.D., M.P.E.
Lee N. Robins, Ph.D.
Edward Spitznagel, Ph.D. 

Preceptors
Laura Bierut, M.D.
Kathleen K. Bucholz, Ph.D.
Linda B. Cottler, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Andrew Heath, D. Phil.
Barry Hong, Ph.D., A.B.P.P.
Pam Madden, Ph.D.
Philip Miller, A.B.
Thomas Oltmanns, Ph.D.
Wendy Reich, Ph.D.
Lee N. Robins, Ph.D.
Edward Spitznagel, Ph.D.
Arlene Stiffman, Ph.D.
Brad Stoner, M.D., Ph.D.
Catherine Striley, Ph.D., M.P.E., A.C.S.W.*
Richard D. Todd, Ph.D., M.D.
James Topolski, Ph.D. 

* Ombudsperson

 For More Information

To obtain an application packet, please review the website at http://epi.wustl.edu or contact:

 Training Coordinator
Washington University School of Medicine
Department of Psychiatry
40 N. Kingshighway, Suite 4
St. Louis, MO 63108
Phone: (314) 286-2261
Fax: (314) 286-2265
E-mail: murdockel@wustl.edu 

The NIDA Training Program in Drug Abuse Comorbidity, Prevention and Biostatistics is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health.

 

Mo dified: 7/24/07 Search Donate Site Map Contact Us Home