Program Requirements

NMPT Symposium

Admissions

Predoctoral Admissions

Predoctoral trainees are admitted by and receive a degree from established UF PhD-granting graduate programs, including:

Predoctoral admission is based on GPA, GRE scores, letters of reference, educational accomplishments and interviews with training faculty. You can read more about the exact requirements by clicking on your program of interest. Once admitted into the graduate program, trainees choose an area for advanced study. Graduate students with an interest in respiratory research will be considered for a BREATHE fellowship after one year of training. In adherence with NIH regulations, only U.S. citizens or green card holders are eligible. Because, like the NIH, we firmly believe that trainees from diverse backgrounds and life experiences bring different perspectives, creativity, and individual enterprise to address complex scientific problems, individuals from historically underrepresented groups, with disabilities, and/or from disadvantaged or underserved backgrounds are highly encouraged to apply. Please see our application page for more information.

Postdoctoral Admissions

Postdoctoral trainees who have earned a terminal degree from any PhD or MD-granting institution are eligible. These trainees will focus on research, with few formal course requirements except for auditing required courses on research ethics and the neuromuscular control of breathing and airway defense.

Postdoctoral admission is based on previous educational and research accomplishments, letters of reference, and interviews with training faculty. In adherence with NIH regulations, only U.S. citizens or green card holders are eligible. Please see our application page for more information.

Mentorship

Each BREATHE trainee is expected to work closely with a primary mentor and a co-mentor as well as adhere to an Individual Development Plan (IDP). We anticipate that this mentoring team will meet at least 4 times each year.

Primary Mentors

Each trainee will be guided by a primary mentor with a track recording of successful extramural funding and a commitment to educating the next generation of breathing researchers. Trainees are expected to work closely with their primary mentors throughout their appointment period and beyond. See our primary mentors here.

Co-Mentors

Each trainee will also be guided by a co-mentor. Clinical trainees will select a co-mentor with a basic science background, whereas basic science trainees will be matched with a clinical scientist. Other co-mentor arrangements are considered on a case-by-case basis. Regardless of research topic, our trainees are exposed to diverse scientific environments and interface with mentors from different disciplines.

Individualized Development Plan

With guidance from their primary mentor and co-mentor, trainees complete an Individualized Development Plan (IDP) that outlines career goals, any coursework, and activities they plan to undertake. Most predoctoral trainees will complete their IDP as part of their graduate training. Postdoctoral Trainees may need to initiate this process with their primary mentor. We recommend using myIDP to develop plans.

Required Coursework

In addition to any courses required by a trainee’s respective graduate program, all trainees will be required to take (or audit) the following courses:

  • Responsible Conduct of Research: In adherence with NIH requirements regarding Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR), all predoctoral trainees are required to complete “Responsible Conduct of Biomedical Research” (GMS 7877, 1 credit), a required course in the Biomedical Sciences graduate curriculum. Postdoctoral trainees should audit this course to certify their RCR training. In addition to the UF-required annual HIPAA training (“HIPAA General Awareness, PRV800), trainees will take the online courses “IRB Training” (IRB803) and “Animal Awareness Seminar.”
  • Rigor and Reproducibility: In adherence with NIH requirements regarding Rigor and Reproducibility Training, all predoctoral trainees are required to complete “Ensuring Rigor and Reproducibility in Clinical and Translational Research” (GMS 6848, 1 credit). Postdoctoral trainees should audit this course to certify their RCR training. All trainees must complete the NIH Rigor and Reproducibility Training Modules available online.
  • Control of Breathing and Airway Defense: Implications for Rehabilitation: This 3-credit course (6935C) is taught by Dr. Gordon Mitchell on a bi-annual basis. Trainees will be informed when it is available.

Presentations & Publications

Trainees are highly encouraged to share their research with the larger academic community. In addition to publishing their work in compliance with the NIH Public Access Policy, trainees have ample opportunities to attend and present at BREATHE-sponsored seminars and events.