Positions held by recent fellows include:
- Assistant Professors
or Research Associates
at universities (n = 7)
- Senior Epidemiologist
in Public Health
Agencies (n = 2)
- Research Analyst in
industry (n = 1)
- Other (n = 1)
Several fellows have won or been finalists for special awards, like
- the American Heart
Association’s
Jeremiah Stamler
Young Investigator
Research Award
- the International
Society of Preventive
Cardiology’s Young
Investigators
Research Award
Research Fellowship in
Cardiovascular Disease
Epidemiology & Prevention
The program is intended to prepare fellows for research careers in cardiovascular disease epidemiology and prevention.
Fellows will be involved in ongoing studies having existing databases and will also initiate research, including data collection and analysis, on their own. Trainees complete one or more projects for which they bear primary responsibility.
Eligibility
Availability
Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Post-doctoral fellowship applicants must have earned doctoral degrees (MD, PhD, DVM, ScD, etc.) in biologic or behavioral disciplines.
Demonstrated potential or experience in research are the primary criteria for appointments.
Pre-doctoral fellows will typically have a masters degree or equivalent degree in a biologic or behavioral discipline and must apply and be accepted into the Epidemiology PhD program.
There are five pre-doctoral and two post-doctoral fellowship positions. Positions become available at irregular intervals.
Please contact the Program Director, Aaron R. Folsom, by phone or via e-mail to find out current availability before applying.
P.I. and Director: Aaron R. Folsom, M.D.
612-626-8862 folsom@epi.umn.edu
Grant Secretary:
Laura Kemmis
612-626-8867
The Fellowship Experience
Fellowship Length
For pre-doctoral fellows, the fellowship supports the Ph.D. degree.
A minimum of three years fellowship is anticipated.
For post-doctoral fellows the training period is usually three years but depends on interest, prior skills and experience; only rarely is a one-year fellowship considered.
The training philosophy at Minnesota is that research is best learned by hands-on experience with appropriate faculty guidance.
Specific research areas include the description and explanation of cardiovascular disease (CVD) trends in populations, individual and population correlations between risk characteristics and disease rates in defined cohorts, studies of the genetic epidemiology of cardiovascular disease, controlled laboratory studies in the modification of risk characteristics, public health trials of interventions in schools and whole communities, and the development of new methods to study etiology, treatment and prevention.
For post-doctoral fellows, the course work component of the program is based on areas outside their prior experience. An MPH degree is available.
For pre-doctoral fellows, specific course work is usually required depending on the individual background. The areas of importance are epidemiology and biostatistics, behavioral science and nutritional epidemiology.
Application Process
Confirm that you are eligible and that a fellowship slot is available.
Dr. Aaron R. Folsom
Division of Epidemiology and Community Health
School of Public Health
University of Minnesota
Suite 300
1300 South 2nd Street
Minneapolis, MN 55454-1015
Stipend & Benefits
Each fellow receives $1400 professional travel allowance per year of fellowship and full tuition, books and fees.
Each receives individual health insurance.
Certain other research related expenses are covered.
Current Pre-doctoral Stipend:$20,772
Current Post-doctoral Stipend Schedule:
Years of relevant postdoctoral experience at entry
First year stipend
0
$36,996
1
$38,976
2
$41,796
3
$43,428
4
$45,048
5
$46,992
6
$48,852
7+
$51,036
Details of Benefits
Advisors
Post-docs: This is a mutual choice between the fellow and a faculty member.
Pre-docs: Advisor assignments for pre-doctoral fellows are typically made
by the Director of Graduate Studies with consultation of the
faculty and student.
Allowed expenses
Tuition, health insurance, books, travel, certain research-related expenses.
Clerical support
No routine secretarial support is provided. Fellows usually work with the secretary
of the research study advisor to whom they are assigned.
The grant assistant will coordinate administrative details related to the training
grant (such as travel or other reimbursements on training grant funds,
appointment documentation, etc.).
Employee status
Post-doc: Nonservice employee/trainee
Pre-doc: Student
Evaluations
Yearly evaluations plus annual updates for Human Subjects documentation and
grant continuations/renewals are required.
Health insurance
Postdoctoral fellows find their own health insurance provider and the Division
will reimburse them at the single coverage rate. Fellows must send a copy of
the check to accounting. Pre-docs are eligible for the Graduate Assistant Health
Plan.
Vacation/sick leave
Pre- and postdoctoral fellows are allowed up to 15 days of paid leave per year
for vacation and/or sick leave.
Maternity
Fellows may take up to 30 days of maternity leave, plus whatever is left of the
15 days of regular leave. Insurance is covered during this time.
Housing contacts
University of Minnesota Housing Service: (612)624-2994.
Office space
Fellows are usually housed individually with the research study advisor to whom
they are assigned.
Rank
Postdoctoral Fellow (post-doc)
Graduate School Trainee (pre-doc)
Research ethics
NIH has adopted a policy that all fellows take formal instruction in research ethics.
Supplemental funding
Pre-doctoral fellows hold supplementary appointments as research assistants,
and postdoctoral stipends may be supplemented according to market levels
and funding availability
Travel
Currently supported at $1400 annually.
Tuition
Support is provided for pre-doctoral fellows, and, upon approval by NIH, may
become available for postdoctoral coursework.
Fellowship Faculty
Program Director Aaron R. Folsom, MD, MPH
Cardiovascular and Chronic Disease
Epidemiology, Biology and Prevention
Electrocardiography Richard S. Crow, MD
Electrocardiography, Clinical Trials
Link
to: Academic Health Center : School
of Public Health : U of M Home 
Research Fellowship in 