Neuroscience Scholar Tracks/R25

The Neuroscience research community at Stanford is tremendously successful and includes over 200 world-renowned faculty members across multiple Schools and Departments, many of whom are part of the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute.  The Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences is a key contributor to this broader community.  Research within the Department covers a wide range of activities in basic neuroscience, translational research, and clinical studies.  The Department has a rich tradition of integrating cutting-edge advances in basic science with novel clinical approaches.

Since 2009,  we have offered a dedicated mentored research experience for Neurology residents interested in pursuing an academic career.  Research projects may be undertaken in any suitable area of clinical or basic neuroscience within the larger Stanford community. There must be strong backing and commitment from the proposed mentor.  With the guidance of their selected mentor, residents will develop a well-thought out written research proposal.

As outlined below, there are two options in the Neuroscience Scholar Track (NST), neither of which are mutually exclusive. A resident could do one or both. Residents will apply for NST during residency.  Even those who do not do a dedicated research track are required to participate in scholarship of some sort during their residency, with the expectation of at least one manuscript ready for submission prior to graduation.  The ample elective time (10-11 blocks) allows for multiple opportunities for research.

Track 1: A 6-block research track generally undertaken in the PGY-3 or PGY-4 year of neurology residency.

During this period of dedicated research time, residents will maintain their weekly half-day neurology continuity clinic, take vacation, and be expected to attend departmental conferences such as Morning Report, Wednesday afternoon didactics, and Grand Rounds.  Ample research funding will be made available by the Department for expenses that cannot be supplied by the PI.  It is expected that the successful candidate will finish the research block with demonstrable output such as peer-reviewed articles, presentations at a national meeting, and/or a draft of a grant application. Residents will be expected to present their work at our annual Stanford University School of Medicine Neuroscience Research Forum and/or Grand Rounds.

Track 2: A dedicated one-year or two-year post-graduate Research Fellowship to be started after successful completion of the Neurology Residency.

Additional Resources:

Potential Research opportunities can be explored by visiting faculty profiles on our CAP Network. The Stanford CAP Network is a virtual workspace created by the School of Medicine to support collaboration among faculty, graduate students, postdocs and staff at Stanford University. The Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute (LINK) also has links to affiliated faculty and their labs.  

Our PhD Program Training Faculty are highly distinguished scientists who have made fundamental discoveries in all areas of neuroscience from molecules to cognition. They have international reputations for excellence in both research and teaching, and are actively involved in training of Program students through direct mentorship, thesis committee participation, instruction of program courses, and/or participation in program leadership.

Residents participating in the research tracks, or even those who don’t do one of the tracks formally, are encouraged to be creative with the projects they pursue. Multiple diverse and cutting-edge opportunities are uniquely available at Stanford. Please see our main Education page.