Post Doctoral & Clinical Fellows

Clinical Research Scholars Training Program (CREST)

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The Downstate Clinical Research Scholars Training Program (CREST) will provide a formal didactic curriculum (SUNY Downstate MPH) and structured mentored clinical research experience to physicians and nurses with doctoral degrees, who are from groups underrepresented in biomedical science, and who seek academic careers in health disparities research.

CREST Phase I

Who Can Apply

Clinicians with doctoral degrees such as : MD, DO, DrPH, PhD, DNP, PharmD, DPT, OTD, etc.

Program candidates must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to be eligible.

Components

Component I Option 1: A 2-year formal didactic curriculum delivered through an accredited MPH program
Component I Option 2: A 15 credit Advanced Certificate in Public Health through an accredited University
During the second year, trainees will begin a structured mentored research project prepared through the Applied Practice Experience.
Component II: Projects that are developed in Component I can be submitted for review and selection for pilot project funding. undetermined if you are unsure).
All scholars will receive a one time stipend
Tuition Scholarship: Fully paid Master of Public Health (MPH) or Fully paid Advanced Certificate in Public Health

How To Apply for CREST Phase 1-Advanced Certificate in Public Health Spring 2025

Applicants must complete the Advanced Certificate application using the Internal Application Portal. Applicants must submit an Advanced Certificate application for Spring 2025. In addition, email the following documents as one continuous PDF to Lakia.Maxwell@downstate.edu.

The candidate’s CV/resume
One-page cover letter describing the candidate’s career goals, interest in health equity related research or policy promotion and evidence of prior research productivity such as descriptions of research projects, abstracts, publications, grants, or scientific presentations.
A letter from your direct supervisor to ensure that you have the necessary protected time to attend CREST activities, a letter from your direct supervisor must state that 1) She/he agrees for you to join the CREST training and mentoring program, 2) you will have the necessary protected time to attend our CREST meetings.

Email documents as a single PDF with the following subject heading: Health Equity Research Training Applications and specify to which program you are applying (CREST-MPH, CREST-Advanced Certificate, COE-Equity Policy Fellow, or undetermined if you are unsure).

Deadlines

Applications are due by December 27, 2024.

Fellowship start date: January 25, 2025

How To Apply for CREST Phase 1- Master of Public Health Summer 2025

Applicants must complete the MPH application using the Internal Application Portal. Applicants must submit an MPH application for Summer 2025. In addition, email the following documents as one continuous PDF to Lakia.Maxwell@downstate.edu.

The candidate’s CV/resume
One-page cover letter describing the candidate’s career goals, interest in health equity related research or policy promotion and evidence of prior research productivity such as descriptions of research projects, abstracts, publications, grants, or scientific presentations.
A letter from your direct supervisor to ensure that you have the necessary protected time to attend CREST activities, a letter from your direct supervisor must state that 1) She/he agrees for you to join the CREST training and mentoring program, 2) you will have the necessary protected time to attend our CREST meetings.

Deadlines

Applications are due by May 30, 2025.

Anticipated Fellowship start date will begin in June 2025.

CREST Phase II: Pilot Grant Award

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Overview

The Clinical Research Training Program (CREST) seeks to cultivate a cohort of well-trained, diverse clinician-scientists who can strengthen research capacity at SUNY Downstate and reduce health disparities in Brooklyn. The Office of Diversity Education and Research is pleased to announce Phase II of CREST. The goal of Phase II is to implement a Pilot Studies program that will serve as a catalyst for generating preliminary data that can be used in preparation for NIH funding.

Program Details

To further develop scholars who will pursue careers as independent clinical research scientists, CREST Phase II will provide pilot award funding of up to $50,000 through a mentored clinical/translational research experience.
This research experience will allow the recipient to continue working toward establishing their own independent research program as a clinical research scientist leading to applications for individual mentored career development (K) or research grant (R series) awards from NIH.
CREST will fund up to 4 awards for a single 12-month period.
Applicants should propose a research project in an area that aligns with the goal of the CREST program to reduce disparities in health and promote health equity – this includes focusing on health services research, translational science approaches, community-engaged research, implementation science, public health, and population health research.
It is expected that funded pilot projects will lead to peer-reviewed scientific publications and successful NIH applications for career awards or research project grants.

Eligibility Requirements

Program candidates must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to be eligible.
Clinical fellows and junior faculty (ideally within seven years of their first faculty appointment) with clinical doctorate degrees (e.g., MD, DO, DDS, DNP, PhD with clinical responsibilities) are eligible to apply.
Applicants from NIH underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
CREST Phase II will solicit applications, review and select pilot projects from scholars who have completed Phase I of the program or who have received prior rigorous research training. Applicants must submit evidence of prior training to ensure candidates have a strong foundation for research.
Applicants must have a CREST mentor at Downstate (can be appointed) as one of the mentors on their pilot project but are encouraged to also work with mentors outside of the institution.
Multi-PI (MPI) project proposals are not permitted. Only one individual can be named as Pl for the proposal. Co-investigators and collaborators are permitted.

Application Process

Letter of Intent Deadline: February 23, 2025, 11:59 PM ET.

A letter of intent must be submitted first to Lakia Maxwell (Lakia.Maxwell@downstate.edu), which includes:

Descriptive title of proposed study
Name, address, and telephone number of the PI
Names of the Primary Mentor and other key personnel
Short Abstract (up to 500 words)
NIH Biosketch (up to 5 pages)

Applicants will be selected from the Letter of Intent to submit full applications, which are due by March 25, 2025, at 11:59 PM.

Selection Criteria

Pilot studies will be reviewed by peer-review committee of faculty internal (and external if necessary to avoid conflicts of interest) to Downstate. They will make recommendations to the CREST Advisory Committee and Community Advisory Board who will make the final funding decisions. Reviewers will provide written critiques including advice on whether a resubmission is encouraged. Review criteria will include:

Significance of the research question, strength of the scientific premise, and feasibility of the study
Appropriateness of the approach, scientific rigor and transparency, and consideration of sex as a biological variable
Qualifications of the investigator and mentor
Plans for obtaining extramural funding
Letter of support from Department Chair, including plan for career development

Center of Excellence (COE)

The COE Fellowship program curriculum focuses on health policy. It is delivered via innovative hybrid and hy-flex (evening, synchronous online, asynchronous online, and in-person) modalities. Trainees will receive up to $20,000 as a one-time stipend for training-related expenses. The two-year tuition-free research curriculum leads to a Master’s in Public Health from the Downstate School of Public Health in Health Policy and Management or Healthcare Administration and is open to trainees at any junior faculty level with a terminal doctoral degree—DNP, MD, Ph.D., DrPH, DPT, OTD—or equivalent health-related doctoral degree) who are at the assistant level or are instructors from underrepresented backgrounds in health policy and research.

Overview

COE fellows will receive full tuition support for an MPH in one of 2 concentrations – HPMG, HCAD – or the MHA
Trainees will also receive a $20,000 one-time stipend for training-related expenses
During year two, trainees partner with staff and faculty in the NYS
Department of Health on Health Equity Policy Related projects
Supports up to 4 COE fellows per year

Eligibility Criteria

Program candidates must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to be eligible.
Downstate affiliated clinicians with a terminal doctoral degree
Early career faculty (Instructor or Assistant Professor level) across any discipline
Individuals from backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical sciences are especially encouraged to apply (NOT-OD-20-031: Updated Notice of NIH's Interest in Diversity)

How To Apply

Applicants must complete the MPH application using the Internal Application Portal.

Applicants must submit an MPH application for Summer 2025. In addition, email the following documents as one continuous PDF to Lakia.Maxwell@downstate.edu.

The candidate’s CV/resume
One-page cover letter describing the candidate’s career goals, interest in health equity related research or policy promotion and evidence of prior research productivity such as descriptions of research projects, abstracts, publications, grants, or scientific presentations.
A letter from your direct supervisor to ensure that you have the necessary protected time to attend CREST activities, a letter from your direct supervisor must state that 1) She/he agrees for you to join the CREST training and mentoring program, 2) you will have the necessary protected time to attend our CREST meetings.

Deadlines

Applications are due by May 30, 2025.

Anticipated Fellowship start date will begin in June 2025.

Admissions

Application Deadlines