NU-THRIVE T32
The Training Program in Translational Science, HIV, and Sexual and Gender Minority Health (NU-THRIVE) is based at Northwestern University’s Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing (ISGMH), within the institute’s THRIVE Center. The program is funded by a T32 grant from the National Institutes of Health and enrolls three postdoctoral fellows each year for two-year appointments. Trainees receive primary and secondary mentorship from faculty at ISGMH and Feinberg School of Medicine and across Northwestern University.
NU-THRIVE postdoctoral fellows learn to be successful translational scientists. Fellows receive training in each of the domains of translational science from basic science discovery, including qualitative and quantitative research methods; to taking the data from those studies to develop interventions; to then eventual implementation of interventions into the community. Fellows will come out of the NU-THRIVE training program with knowledge of the whole translational science spectrum and will have the opportunity to specialize in two translational domains.
As reflected by the interdisciplinary nature of our training faculty, we welcome and encourage applicants from numerous academic disciplines, including (but not limited to) public health, medicine, psychology, sociology, social work, and communications. Medical residents seeking one-year research fellowships are also encouraged to apply.
The NU-THRIVE training curriculum is diverse and was designed specifically to meet the needs of the next generation of translational scientists in HIV and SGM health.
- Mentored research with a primary and secondary mentor, including working on existing research projects and/or proposing new research initiatives.
- Bi-annual intensive trainings in our four translational science domains: quantitative methods, qualitative methods, interventions and trials, and implementation science.
- A weekly seminar that rotates between presentations on: research skills, professional development, faculty presentations, and works in progress.
- Structured writing support, including a weekly writing group and bi-annual writing retreats, designed to improve manuscript and grant writing skills.
Applications for the program open late summer/early fall each year. Find open postdoctoral positions.
Training Modalities
NU-THRIVE trains postdoctoral fellows in research methods across the translational science spectrum through a rigorous program in which they will specialize in two translational science skill domains and gain breadth of knowledge in all four domains through a formal training curriculum.
Qualitative Methods
Interventions and Trials
Implementation Science
Core Competencies
Postdoctoral fellows in the NU-THRIVE program will also gain knowledge and skills in eight core competencies.
Mentors
Fellows will select one Primary and one Secondary Mentor.
Primary Mentors are faculty who focus primarily on HIV, mental health, and/or SGM health. Primary Mentors will guide the research and professional development of fellows during their 2-year appointment.
Secondary Mentors come from a range of disciplines and have expertise complementary to the aims of NU-THRIVE but may work outside of or adjacent to HIV and mental health among SGM. The goal of working with a Secondary Mentors is to broaden the each fellow’s training by engaging in a smaller, but substantive, research project (e.g., preparing a manuscript).
Our training program seeks equip the next generation of scholars to understand and mitigate health disparities impacting SGM people. Sexual and gender minorities experience vast health inequities, including in HIV, mental health, substance use, and physical health outcomes. To rapidly address these issues, we need skilled translational scientists who can delineate the mechanistic processes driving disparities, translate findings into interventions, and implement programs with communities.”