How to Apply

Current Application Deadline: Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Announcing openings for multiple T32 predoctoral traineeships in the U of U Genetics Training Program. The UGTP provides partial stipend support, supplemental funds, and training activities for graduate students doing genetic and/or genomic research, broadly defined.

Trainees participate in year-round activities of the Training Program including: UGTP-sponsored seminars, the Annual Retreat, and HGEN 7850 Genetics Conferences, where trainees present their research and participate in discussions and workshops. All trainees also are expected to complete foundational and advanced coursework in genetics and computational methods.

Eligibility

We invite applications from graduate students just completing Years 1 or 2 and from MD/PhD students just beginning Research Year 1 or 2 who are conducting research in genetics and/or genomics. NIH requires that T32-supported trainees be US Citizens or Permanent Residents.

Program Goals

We are supported by the NIH to augment the scientific and professional training that students receive within their home labs and departments.

“NIH’s mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and to apply that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability.”
— National Institutes of Health

Preparing your application

Before filling in the online application form, applicants should prepare the following documents as PDFs and request 2 letters of recommendation as required:

  • Your curriculum vitae with a description of your education, awards, research experience, presentations, publications, and any other academic or STEM-oriented activities, including teaching, tutoring, outreach.

  • A short description of your thesis research project. The proposal should address the following points:

    • what is the "big problem" you wish to address;

    • what is the context of your proposed work, the specific open question you want to focus on, and why is it important

    • what are the specific approaches you will take to address this question, formatted as a set of 2- 3 Aims.

      You should emphasize connections of your project to the field of genetics. Also briefly indicate progress, if any, you have accomplished so far. Include strategic literature references.

      There is a limit of two pages, not including references or figures. Font must be 11pt Arial, single spaced, with 1 inch margins.

  • Copies of your undergraduate and graduate academic transcripts. These can be informal; you do not need to obtain official copies.

  • All students: the committee's report from your 1st-year Capstone Exam, if available. (We realize that some graduate programs do not provide a written evaluation; if so, you can indicate this in your application.)

  • Second-year students: the committee's report from your Qualifying Exam, if available. (We realize that the timing of this requirement varies among departments and/or some departments do not provide a written evaluation; if so, you can indicate this in your application.)

You also will need to provide

  • Brief (~1 paragraph) answers to the following questions: (1) What do you specifically hope to gain from participation in the UGTP? (2) What are your current career goals and interests?

  • Two letters of support. Both LORs should comment on your specific strengths as well as your potential to benefit from and contribute to a diverse community of genetics trainees.

    • One must be from your faculty advisor (lab PI). Your advisor's letter must describe the level of independence with which you developed your ideas and wrote your proposal.

    • The other letter should be from another faculty member at the U who has interacted with you as a graduate student and is familiar with your academic or research potential (e.g., thesis/qualifying/capstone committee members, rotation advisors, or course instructors would be appropriate choices).

Submitting your application

Google form for submitting trainee’s application materials

  • Fill in all required fields, including statements of career interests and reasons for applying to the UGTP. Applicants are strongly encouraged to peruse the form and contact Gillian Stanfield with any questions prior to the deadline.

  • Individual application materials described above need to be saved in PDF format smaller than 10MB for upload.

  • You should fill in the entire form and submit all application materials in one session. Please check that you have uploaded correct materials prior to hitting submit.

Google form for submitting letters of recommendation

LORs should be submitted directly by the letter writers by June 17, 2025. The LOR form accepts PDF and Word formats.