Research Training

Mechanism of Research Project Selection

During the first half of the first year of training, fellows are encouraged to meet with all members of the neonatal faculty in order to discuss ongoing projects within the division, so that they might identify an area of investigation that has the greatest appeal to their long-term career goals. Fellows will not be assigned to specific investigations simply because an individual needs assistance with a certain project. Fellows will be encouraged to pursue research in both basic science (“bench”) and clinical areas of research. An addendum of current research interests and recent publications and presentations will give candidates an idea of the breadth of research that is currently being carried out within the division of neonatology.

Within the Division, Thomas Shaffer, PhD and Marla Wolfson, PhD have laboratories that study various aspects of newborn respiratory physiology. Assistance and support will also be provided to any fellow who wishes to pursue an area of research interest outside the division of neonatology. These projects can be in other divisions of the Department of Pediatrics or outside the department as long as they are related to neonatal-perinatal medicine. Examples of these types of extramural research areas, include the Jefferson Cancer Network under the direction of Renato Baserga, M.D., and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, under the direction of Matthas Schnell, PhD.

There is also study design and statistical support available to fellows in training. Those fellows interested in learning grant writing will also be provided with appropriate support. Each fellow will be assigned a Scholarship Oversight Committee that will meet periodically to assess the fellow’s research progress and productivity. The fellow’s primary mentor will serve on this committee.

Additional Educational Opportunities

There is a formal course in biostatistics offered to the fellows in conjunction with the other fellowship programs throughout the Jefferson/duPont/CCHS program.

There is an NIH sponsored training program in Human Clinical Investigation offered through Thomas Jefferson University.  This program combines didactic sessions, conferences and mentored hands-on experience.  It lasts two years and is meant to be compatible with a clinical fellowship. Completion of this program makes the individual eligible to receive a Master’s Degree.

• Neonatal Fellows Physiology Lecture Series
• Fellow Supervision
• Clinical Care Facilities at TJU & Christiana Hospital
• Research Facilities at the TJU & Christiana Hospital