The Department of Neurology has a sustained commitment to excellence in the three major components of academic medicine: teaching, clinical care, and research that advances scientific/medical knowledge as well as therapeutics and diagnostics.
The Research Track
Leadership
Abby Olsen, MD, PhD (olsenal@upmc.edu), is the Director of the Research Track. Dr. Olsen is a past recipient of multiple grants, including the NIH R25 grant and a K08 award, and she has a strong commitment to mentoring the next generation of physician-scientists. Prior to being recruited to UPMC in 2022, Dr. Olsen served as Co-Director of the Research Certificate Program for the Mass General Brigham Neurology Residency.
What is the goal of the research track?
The goal of the Research Track is to provide an extended and individualized research exposure for interested Neurology residents. Further, it is expected that by the time they complete their residency training, this dedicated research time will allow trainees to apply for competitive fellowships, such as NIH K-series awards or disease foundation career development awards that combine subspecialty clinical training and focused research time.
What types of research do residents do?
We value all types of research, including basic, translational, and clinical research, as well as applied research in areas of health care delivery, quality and safety, medical education, global health, and diversity, equity and inclusion.
How do I join the research track?
There are two routes of entry to the research track.
At the time of application
Highly motivated applicants are encouraged to apply for our dedicated Research Track match spot. Successful applicants will be those who have had substantial prior research experience before or during medical school, including but not limited to those applicants with PhD or master’s degrees. Because research time comes at the expense of clinical elective time, applicants should have already formed some idea of their clinical and research interests at the time of application. Applicants who apply to the dedicated Research Track match spot are strongly encouraged to consider applying for the N3-PREP grant and should be interested in hypothesis-driven basic, translational, or clinical research. They should be planning for a physician-scientist career in which research plays a substantial role. Prospective residents interested in the research track should indicate their interest to our Program Director and to Dr. Olsen on or before their interview day.
During the residency
Residents who do not match into the dedicated match spot but are interested in research are encouraged to participate in the research track and can apply at any time between PGY1 and the beginning of the PGY-4 year. Residents are encouraged to apply early to take full advantage of the research resources available at UPMC.
How does the Research Track work?
Once accepted and matriculated in the residency program, those interested in the Research Track will schedule a screening interview with the Research Track and Residency Directors to ensure that residency and career goals are appropriate and realistic. Once accepted, residents in the Research Track are not limited to working with faculty in the Department of Neurology, but may choose as their mentor any faculty member in any department at the School of Medicine or the University at large, which ranks #8 in NIH funding nationally. UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh have outstanding clinical and basic science departments, including renowned Psychiatry and neurobiology departments, and numerous interdisciplinary centers and institutes. The Director of the Research Track will assist residents in finding a primary mentor. The primary mentor must agree to be the mentor and also agree to pay any associated research expenses.
For a longitudinal research project to be approved, applicants must submit a brief (1-2 page) project description with Specific Aims and the proposed mentor’s CV. Residents in the Research Track will meet twice yearly with a committee composed of the Director of the Research Track, at least one of the Associate Program Directors for the Residency, the primary mentor, and other relevant faculty.
The maximum time*** available for research is as follows:
- PGY1: 8 weeks
- PGY2: 6 weeks
- PGY3: 8 weeks
- PGY4: 10 weeks
Total: 32 weeks (and up to 18 consecutive weeks with sufficient advance planning)
*** Note that Neurology residency training provides a relatively short (3-year) period in which to learn clinical neurology – and that research elective time comes at the expense of clinical electives.
Other FAQ
Is the curriculum different between the Research Track and the main residency program?
No
Do residents in the Research Track have additional elective time?
No, except for that residents who receive the N3-PREP grant are guaranteed 6 months of contiguous research with 80% protected time during the PGY-4 year.
Is funding available for residents to present their work at national meetings?
Yes.
If residents can join the Research Track at any time, why apply for the dedicated match spot?
The advantage of the match spot is that the program leadership will work with residents right from the beginning of residency to help find a primary mentor. Residents who match into the Research Track will be in a competitive position for applying for the N3-PREP grant in the PGY-3 year, having started this process early.
If I am interested in the Research Track, should I also still apply to the regular UPMC residency program?
Yes. If, you want to maximize your odds for matching at UPMC, you should apply to both programs and plan to join the Research Track after starting residency.
What is the N3-PREP?
A five-year NIH NINDS UE5 Research Education Grant is currently funding the "Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Neuropathology Pittsburgh Research Education Program" (N3-PREP), which aims to train the next generation of physician-neuroscientists in basic science, translational science, and clinical research through a closely mentored approach. The program is led by multi-principal investigators in neurology (Page B. Pennell), Neurological Surgery (Constantinos G. Hadjipanayis), and Neuropathology (Julia K. Kofler). To learn more about N3-PREP's goals and core curriculum, please go to the N3-PREP page.