Residency Research Training Program

The Research Training Program of the General Psychiatry Residency Curriculum is designed to provide progressive and intensive research training and experience to residents preparing for an academic career.  The General Psychiatry Residency Curriculum emphasizes established and evolving knowledge relevant to the practice of psychiatric medicine, application of this knowledge to patient care, critical analysis of psychiatric literature and scientific evidence, and issues relevant to career development.  The Research Training Program provides an in-depth opportunity for didactic and experiential training in research methodology and academic career development. 

Training opportunities are available in a wide range of clinical and neuroscientific disciplines, including descriptive phenomenology, epidemiology, clinical psychopharmacology, neuropsychology, neurophysiology, neuroimaging, epidemiologic and molecular genetics, behavioral and molecular pharmacology, molecular and developmental neurobiology.  Independently, or in conjunction with the NIMH-funded Clinical Research Fellowship, the Research Training Program provides the formative basis for an academic and research-oriented career. 

PGY-1

PGY-1 residents interested in an academic career may apply for the Research Training Program within the General Psychiatry Residency Curriculum.  The application, which should be submitted toward the end of the PGY-1, consists of a one-page statement of research interests, goals, and plans.  Potentially interested applicants are encouraged to meet with the Residency Training Director (Dr. Karon Dawkins) or the Vice-Chair for Research and Scientific Affairs (Dr. John H. Gilmore) to discuss their training goals and areas of interest.  Applicants will be assisted in defining their areas of interest, career development plans, and identifying potential mentors.  Applications and letters of support will be evaluated by the Research Training Subcommittee and up to two residents per year will be admitted to the Research Training Program within the General Psychiatry Residency Program.

PGY-2

Residents selected for the Research Training Program will spend, beginning in the PGY-2, at least ½ day per week devoted to research and research training.  A schedule of activities will be determined by the trainee, Residency Training Director, and the trainee's mentor or preceptor based on the interests, level of experience, and motivation of the trainee.  This could include participation and implementation of research protocols on clinical service rotations, development of an independent research project, or laboratory-based training experience.  Didactic activities could include directed readings and tutorials, supervisory meetings with their research mentor, and participation in lab meetings.  In addition, the resident will have the opportunity to take the NIH Human Subjects Training Course, participate in the UNC Research Fellowship Journal Club, and attend seminars in the UNC Alcohol Studies Center, the UNC Conte Schizophrenia Research Center, the UNC Neurodevelopmental Disorders Center, and the STAART Autism Research Center.

PGY-3

Residents will spend a minimum of ½ day and as much as 2 days per week devoted to research activities as outlined in the PGY-2.  In addition, they may elect to serve as research psychiatrist on the Dorothea Dix Clinical Research Unit (CRU) for a period of time to be determined.  The Dix CRU is the principal clinical site for Experimental Therapeutics Research associated with the UNC Mental Health Clinical Research Center.  Other clinical research options include rotations through the Early Psychosis Research Program of the STEP Clinic, the Pediatric Psychosis Research Program, the Mood Disorders Research Program, and the Eating Disorders Research Program.  Clinical and preclinical laboratory based experiences are also available.

PGY-4

PGY-4 residents in the Research Training Program will devote 80% of their time to research and research training.   Residents may opt to spend their 4th year in the NIMH-funded Research Fellowship, devotin 100% of their time to research training.  Along with the Residency Training Director and their mentor, each research resident will determine a curriculum and schedule of activities, including the General Clinical Research Center Courses, "Methods in Clinical Research" and "Responsible Conduct in Clinical Research."  Residents will continue to work with their mentor on a research project and will receive instruction in scientific scholarship, writing for professional journals, and fund-raising and grantsmanship.  They will be guided and expected to write and submit papers to scientific journals and to develop a grant application.