Fellowship Training Program

The "training tracks" available through PDF fellowship opportunities are Clinician Scientist Development Award, Postdoctoral Fellowships for Neurologists, Postdoctoral Research Fellowships and Summer Student Fellowships.

The Parkinson's Disease Foundation (PDF) and the American Academy of Neurology Foundation (AANF) are pleased to collaborate on the Clinician Scientist Development Award to support our mutual interest in training outstanding residency-level clinicians in the field of Parkinson's disease (PD).  Successful applicants receive a three year award of $85,000. 

The PDF-AANF Clinician-Scientist Development Award supports three years of research training in an environment where talented young clinicians address problems in PD with the most current scientific tools.  It is expected that upon completion of the program, participants will be committed to a research or combined clinical/research career in PD and will be in line to direct robust research programs relevant to PD.

Requirements are listed below.  To learn more in detail about this award and to apply please visit the AANF website, at: http://www.aan.com/go/foundation/research/development.

Requirements and Guidelines:

• Applicants must hold an MD, DO, or equivalent clinical degree from an accredited institution.
• Applicants must hold an MD, DO, or equivalent clinical degree from an accredited institution.
• Applicants must have completed residency training but be less than seven years from completion of residency when funding begins.
• There is no citizenship requirement; however, the individual applying for the award must be licensed to
  practice medicine in the United States at the time of application.
• May only submit one application per department. The department is considered to be the one at which the
  applicant’s training and research program will occur.
• Each applicant must agree to a phone interview with a member of the PDF-AANF Advisory Committee, if
  necessary, during the application review period.

The 2007/2008 Award application period has passed.  Information about the 2007/2008 award will be available in the fall of 2008.

View last year's application on the AANF website.  All applications should be sent to:

PDF-AANF Clinician Scientist Development Award

American Academy of Neurology Foundation

ATTN: Erin Jackson, Administrator

1080 Montreal Avenue

St. Paul, MN 55116

Phone: (651) 695-2704 / Fax: (651) 361-4804

ejackson@aan.com

www.neurofoundation.org

Please note that for both types of postdoctoral fellowships:

• PDF DOES NOT pay indirect or overhead costs.
• PDF requires the fellowship recipient to account for all expenditures.
• In instances where the researcher would want to file a consecutive application for fellowship, a preliminary report of the current research would be due along with the new application.
• PDF requires that acknowledgement of its support is made on ALL scientific papers resulting from the work undertaken. Three copies of any such papers are to be forwarded to Sharon Stone, Parkinson's Disease Foundation, 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, New York, NY 10018.

Postdoctoral Fellowship for Neurologist awards are available for up to $50,000 per year. Fellows may receive sponsorship for up to two years in any one project but would need to apply for each award year following the same guidelines as new applicants. In instances where the researcher would want to file a consecutive application for fellowship, a preliminary report of the current research would be due along with the new application.

Postdoctoral Fellowship for Neurologists must have an MD and be completing or have completed a neurology residence; they may not have their own lab.  The application form for the Postdoctoral Fellowship for Neurologists is the same one used for the International Research Grant Program. Click here for the application form. Be sure to include your curriculum vitae, a letter from your sponsor outlining the training program, a description of the work to be undertaken (including the method to be followed-two to five pages), and a detailed budget. Follow the instructions for submitting your application online.

PDF has closed 2008-2009 application period and will have information regarding next year's opportunities available in late fall.. Click here for the application form.

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship awards are available for up to $50,000 per year. Fellows may receive sponsorship for up to two years in any one project but would need to apply for each award year following the same guidelines as new applicants. In instances where the researcher would want to file a consecutive application for fellowship, a preliminary report of the current research would be due along with the new application.

The applicant must have completed a PhD or MD and identify a research mentor who will serve as mentor for the fellow and supervisor of the research. Postdoctoral Research Fellowship awards enable young scientists, fresh from their residencies, to study at a major research institution for one or two years. The application form for the Postdoctoral Research Fellowship is the same one used for the IRGP. Proposals will be peer-reviewed and judged for scientific quality and relevance to Parkinson's, along with those submitted under the International Research Grants Program (IRGP). The applicant for the Postdoctoral Research Fellowship may also apply for the IRGP. Note: Candidates who are unsure as to which category is more relevant to their proposal may apply for both. If you wish to be considered for the IRGP as well, be sure to check the appropriate category (IRGP and/or POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP) on the application form.

PDF has closed 2008-2009 application period and will have information regarding next year's opportunities available in late fall. Click here to view last year's application form.

Summer Student Fellows

Summer student fellowships are used to support high school seniors, undergraduates, and medical students in the pursuit of Parkinson's-related summer research projects. Typically fellowships are offered for 10 weeks of laboratory work under a sponsor who oversees the project.  The maximum award for summer student fellows is $3,000.

PDF has closed Summer 2008 application period and will have information regarding next year's opportunities available in late fall. Click here to view last year's application page for the Summer Fellowship program.