Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health in Pittsburgh (BIRCWH @ Pitt)
Program Overview
The purpose of the Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health in Pittsburgh (BIRCWH @ Pitt) program is to equip talented University of Pittsburgh faculty Scholars to be independent investigators in interdisciplinary research in women’s health. The program encompasses basic, translational, behavioral, clinical, and health services research in reproductive sciences and women’s health, spanning embryonic life to advanced age.
Eligibility
At the time of the appointment, BIRCWH Scholar candidates must:
- Have a clinical doctorate, or a PhD degree or its equivalent;
- Have completed any postgraduate training typically expected for a faculty appointment in their field (including clinical or postdoctoral fellowship training, or residency if they have chosen not to subspecialize);
- Have no more than six years of research or research training experience beyond their last doctoral degree (candidates who have had a career hiatus for special circumstances may be exceptions; please inquire with the program coordinator);
- Hold, or be scheduled to start a faculty appointment within the University of Pittsburgh’s six Schools of the Health Sciences (Grad School of Public Health, School of Dental Medicine, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, and School of Pharmacy);
- Be available to spend at least nine person months (or at least six person months for surgical-specialties) of full-time professional effort conducting research and research career development activities;
- Not be or have been a PD/PI on an R01, R29, or subproject of a Program Project (P01), Center (P50, P60, U54) grant, independent mentored career development (K-series) grants, or other equivalent research grant awards; except for R03 and R21;
- Be a U.S. citizen or noncitizen national or must have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence and possess an Alien Registration Receipt Card (I-151 or I-155) or some other verification of legal admission as a permanent citizen. Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible.
New Scholar appointments begin as current Scholars transition off of the program. The program maintains funding for three Scholars at a time.
Scholar Support
Scholar salary: The BIRCWH program will provide salary support for 75% of a scholar’s salary up to $100,000 total costs, plus fringe benefits, annually. If the Scholar’s salary exceeds available NIH funding, the Scholar’s home department must supplement the BIRCWH salary contribution to a level that is consistent with that department’s salary scale. Departmental supplementation of a salary cannot require duties or responsibilities that would interfere with the purpose of BIRCWH or the requirement that 75% effort be spent on women’s health research or related career development activities. (Note: BIRCWH research effort may be reduced to 50% FTE for faculty in surgical specialties such as general surgery, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, etc.)
Scholars’ research and professional development: The BIRCWH program provides $25,000 to support research and career development, which may include the following expenses: Research expenses, such as supplies, equipment, core research services and technical personnel ($22,905); tuition and fees related to career development ($595); and travel to one training or scientific meeting per year ($1,500). Additional funds are provided for Scholars to attend the annual BIRCWH Meeting at the NIH.
Other support: The department supporting the candidate must be able to demonstrate a commitment to the development of the candidate as a productive, independent investigator. The candidate’s department must agree to protect 75% of the Scholar’s time for the BIRCWH project (50% allowable for surgical specialties), and cover any of her/his salary and necessary research expenses in excess of the NIH limit. This agreement is needed to ensure that the scholar has a salary commensurate to that of other junior faculty in the relevant department, to ensure provision of the appropriate technical support and supplies necessary to establish a productive research program, and to ensure that the total funds allocated to support each young investigator are within the program guidelines. In addition to salary and protected research time, the department must provide office space and appropriate research space for the Scholar.
Program Structure and Curriculum
Scholars, who are supported for a minimum of two years, take advantage of the extraordinary environment at the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences and Magee-Womens Research Institute. They will work with a personalized mentorship team and supportive program advisory committee to develop a research program that is relevant to the Scholar’s research interests in women’s health and serves as the foundation for the Scholar’s independence. Key activities in the program include:
- Conducting interdisciplinary research in women’s health, executing experiments, analyzing and preparing data for publication in peer-reviewed journals and presentation at local and national venues
- Engaging with a dedicated mentorship team to achieve research and career development goals
- Undergoing didactic education in research methodology, design, and the ethical conduct of research
- Meeting monthly with the PD and BIRCWH scholars to discuss professional development, work-life balance, and strengthening mentoring relationships
- Attending advisory committee meetings every 2 months to assess progress and mentorship, and to discuss plans and future goals
- Participating in special events, such as Grant-in-Progress Meetings, MWRI’s Annual Research Day, and the BIRCWH National Meeting at the NIH
Research
Required Coursework
(Offered via University of Pittsburgh CTSI)
| Department/Program | Course Title |
|---|---|
| Biostatistics | Introduction to Statistical Methods 1 Introduction to Statistical Methods 2 Clinical Trials: Methods and Practice Chronic Disease Epidemiology SAS for Data Management and Analysis |
| Epidemiology | Pathophysiology Across the Life Span Chronic Disease Epidemiology Reproductive Epidemiology Advanced Epidemiology of Aging Epidemiology of Aging-Methods |
| Office of Academic Career Dev | Leadership Academy |
| Environ & Occ Health | Environmental Health and Disease Principles of Toxicology Genome Instability and Human Disease |
| Behavior & Comm Health Sci | Overview of Health Equity Dimensions of Aging: Culture and Health Introduction to Community Health Seminar Maternal and Child Health Introduction to Community Based Participatory Research Translating Research for Policy and Practice Concept Mapping: A Participatory Research Method Global Perspectives Women's Health |
| Health Policy & Mgmt | Leadership, Professionalism and Career Development Computer Methods in Decision and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Current Topics in Health Economics |
| Human Genetics | Molecular Basis of Human Inherited Disease Bioethics |
| Infectious Dis & Microbiol | Human Diversity and Public Health |
| Public Health | Overview of LBGT Health Disparities |
| Pharm & Chem Biology | Principles of Pharmacology |
| Immunology | Comprehensive Immunology |
| Interdisc Biomed Grad Program | Cell and Molecular Physiology Molecular Pathobiology Basics of Personalized Medicine Model Organisms Stem Cells |
Mentorship
Each Scholar’s mentorship team will consist of one primary mentor and at least two supporting mentors. The Scholar will work with the primary mentor to submit the application’s research plan and budget. There will be at least one other research mentor with an interest in a relevant scientific discipline different than that of the primary mentor, thus enhancing the interdisciplinary aspects of the research plan. A third member of the mentoring team serves mainly as a career mentor. The BIRCWH Advisory Committee may assist the Scholar in assembling the mentoring team.
Progress review meetings between Scholars and primary mentors will occur, on average, no less frequently then every two weeks. Meetings with the full mentoring committee of primary and supporting mentors will occur at least three times per year and scholars must provide a written summary of the team meetings to the Advisory Committee. Under the guidance of their mentors, each Scholar will develop a detailed research plan that includes a rich curriculum of course work and seminars, adjusted to their level of training. Scholars will execute experiments, analyze and prepare data for publication in peer-reviewed journals and presentation at local and national venues. Importantly, Scholars will work with their mentors and BIRCWH advisory committee to prepare and submit an independent research proposal.
A list of program mentors is provided below. Additional mentors can be added based upon project needs, with the advisory committee’s approval. The mentor should be recognized as an accomplished investigator in the proposed research area and have a successful record in training independent investigators.
Program Faculty
Leadership / Advisory Committee
Principal Investigator
Elsie Hilliard Hillman Chair of Women’s Health Research
Professor Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
Program Director
Committee Member
Director UPMC Tobacco Treatment Service
Director, Career Education and Enhancement for Health Care Research Diversity (CEED) Program
Committee Member
Director, Office of Community Partnerships
Department of Health & Community Systems
Committee Member
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
Committee Member
Committee Member
Chief, Division of Adolescent Medicine
School of Medicine
Committee Member
Professor of Epidemiology
Professor Clinical and Translational Science, CTSI Investigator, Magee-Womens Research Institute
Committee Member
School of Medicine
Program Mentors
Professor of OBGYN-RS, and Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
School of Medicine
Graduate School of Public Health
Associate Professor of Medicine
School of Medicine
Professor of Psychiatry, School of Medicine
Vira I. Heinz Professor and Chair, Department of Pediatrics
School of Medicine
School of Nursing
School of Medicine
School of Medicine
School of Medicine
School of Medicine
Director of the Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics
School of Dental Health
Chief, Division of Adolescent Medicine
School of Medicine
School of Medicine
Director Center for Aging and Population Health
Graduate School of Public Health
Director, Molecular Genetics & Developmental Biology Program
School of Medicine
School of Medicine
School of Pharmacy
School of Medicine
School of Engineering
School of Medicine
School of Medicine
Scholars & Alumni
Current Scholars
Primary mentor(s): Pamela Moalli, MD, PhD
Current appointment: Assistant Professor of OBGYN and Reproductive Sciences University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Primary mentor(s): Marian Jarlenski, PhD
Current appointment: Assistant Professor of Health Policy & Management, School of Public Health
Primary mentor(s): Janet Catov, PhD
Current appointment: Assistant Professor of OBGYN and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Primary mentor(s): Pamela Moalli, MD, PhD
Current appointment: Assistant Professor of OBGYN and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering
Alumni
Primary mentor(s): Pamela Moalli, MD, PhD
Current appointment: Professor Bioengineering and OBGYN, University of Pittsburgh
Primary mentor(s): Sharon Hillier, PhD
Current appointment: Deputy Director, Reproductive Health Technologies, Global Health at Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Primary mentor(s): Katherine Wisner, MD
Current appointment: Professor of Epidemiology, Psychiatry and OBGYN, University of Pittsburgh
Primary mentor(s): Katherine Wisner, MD
Current appointment: Secretary of Health, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Primary mentor(s): Harvey Borovetz, PhD
Current appointment: Associate Professor of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh
Primary mentor(s): Kim Sutton Tyrell, DrPH, MPH, RN
Current appointment: Associate Professor of OBGYN, University of Pittsburgh
Primary mentor(s): Robert Arnold, MD
Current appointment: Associate Professor of OBGYN, Assistant Dean of Medical Student Research, Director of the Clinical Scientist Training Program, University of Pittsburgh
Primary mentor(s): Sharon Hillier, PhD
Current appointment: Assistant Professor of OBGYN and Reproductive Sciences University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Primary mentor(s): Andrea Kriska, PhD, MS
Current appointment: John Rex and Alice C. Winder Presidential Endowed Chair in Internal Medicine and Chief, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Utah
Primary mentor(s): Patrick Strollo, Jr, MD
Current appointment: Associate Professor of OBGYN, University of Pittsburgh
Primary mentor(s): Katherine Wisner, MD
Current appointment: Associate Professor of OBGYN, Washington University in St Louis
Primary mentor(s): Wishwa Kapoor, MD, MPH
Current appointment: Chief, Division of Health System Innovation and Research, Professor of Population of Health Sciences and Internal Medicine, University of Utah
Primary mentor(s): Lisa Bodnar PhD, MPH, RD
Current Appointment: Associate Professor, Health Policy and Management, Associate Director, Center for Innovative Research on Gender Health Equity, and Vice Chair for Practice, Health Policy and Management
Primary mentor(s): Kirk Conrad, MD
Current appointment: Associate Professor of OBGYN and Director, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh
Primary mentor(s): Francesca Facco, MD
Current appointment: Associate Professor of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, Chief, Division of Obstetric & Women’s Anesthesiology, University of Pittsburgh
Primary mentor(s): Elizabeth Miller, MD, PhD
Current appointment: Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Studies, Michigan State University
Primary mentor(s): Lewis Kuller, MD, DrPH
Current appointment: Associate Professor of General Medicine, and Epidemiology, Director, General Medicine Clinical Scientist Track, Associate Director, General Medicine Intl Scholars Program, University of Pittsburgh
Primary mentor(s): Katherine Wisner, MD
Current appointment: Midlife Women’s Associates, Pittsburgh, PA
Primary mentor(s): Katherine Wishner, MD
Current appointment: Independent Practice and Adjunct Associate Professor, Columbia University School of Social Work
Primary mentor(s): Ronald Dahl, MD
Primary mentor(s): Ronald Dahl, MD Current appointment: Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, and Psychology, University of Pittsburgh
Primary mentor(s): Lisa Rohan
Current appointment: Staff Scientist, University of Florida Center for Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology, Gainesville
How To Apply
There are no slots currently available. Notice of opportunities is advertised on this page and throughout the University of Pittsburgh. All application inquiries should be directed to the Program Coordinator, Lori Rideout, at rideoutl@mwri.magee.edu.
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