Department of Surgery

Research Fellowships/Training

Our commitment to excellence in research drives our commitment to seek out and train the best of the next generation of biomedical scientists.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) T32 institutional training grants support postdoctoral research training in specified areas of biomedical, behavioral and clinical research. These grants are also called National Research Service Awards (NRSAs). The objective is to ensure that a diverse and highly trained workforce is available to assume leadership roles to advance the nation’s biomedical and clinical research agenda.

NIH T32 institutional training grants are awarded to an eligible institution, such as the University of Pittsburgh, to develop or enhance research training opportunities for individuals selected by the institution. The individual training programs are headed by a leader in the area of focus, and this individual is the named Program Director on the grant. Within the program, faculty members serve as mentors and lend their expertise and research opportunities to the trainees as part of the training plan.

The Department of Surgery hosts four NIH training grants, which allow for a dedicated effort in the area of resident and fellow research.  

Vascular Surgery Training Grant

Program Director: Edith Tzeng MD

The training program in the Division of Vascular Surgery provides interdisciplinary laboratory training for up to six surgical residents or postdoctoral fellows with MD and/or PhD qualifications, and is funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Learn more

Trauma and Sepsis Research Training Grant

Program Director: Timothy R. Billiar, MD

The training program in the Division of General Surgery provides interdisciplinary laboratory training for up to five surgical residents or postdoctoral fellows with MD and/or PhD qualifications, and is funded by the NIGMS. Learn more

Postdoctoral Research Training in Biotherapy of Cancer

Program Director: Udai S. Kammula, MD, FACS

This training grant is an award from the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to the Division of Surgical Oncology at the University of Pittsburgh to provide eligible candidates with state-of-the-art basic research training in the biological therapy of cancer with faculty members within the division. Learn more

Interdisciplinary Training in Transplantation Biology

Program Director: Angus Thomson, PhD, DSc

The purpose of this unique, NIH-supported interdisciplinary training program in transplantation biology is to train future leaders in transplantation research. Training positions for pre-doctoral graduate students (PhD or MD/PhD candidates) and for post-doctoral fellows (PhDs, MDs, MD/PhDs and VDMs) are available. Learn more