NMPT Predoctoral Training Program
Program Overview The Interdisciplinary Training Program in Rehabilitation and Neuromuscular
Plasticity, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NCMRR)
was initiated in 2003 to help build a critical mass of well-trained
scientists prepared to conduct innovative rehabilitation research.
This pre-doctoral training program is unique in that it emphasizes
the interaction and joint training of rehabilitation clinicians
and basic scientists with a common interest in translational research
in neuromuscular plasticity. Trainees are selected from a pool of
outstanding students with diverse backgrounds and are admitted by
one of three graduate programs: Interdisciplinary
Biomedical Sciences, Rehabilitation
Science, or Health and
Human Performance. The NIH National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research T32 award at the University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions is under the direction of Program Director Krista Vandenborne, PT, PhD, Paul Reier, PhD, and Andrea Behrman, PT, PhD serve as Program Co-Directors. The Director and Co-Directors are assisted by an Internal
Advisory Program Committee and a large group of Faculty Mentors.
The NMPT Program Administration is housed in the Department of Physical
Therapy and coordinated by Ellen L. Esparolini,
Coordinator, Research Programs. Many of the 24 members of the training faculty have a history of
interdisciplinary collaboration in research grants, peer reviewed
publications and joint sponsorship of students and postdoctoral fellows.
Collectively, over the last four years the NMPT faculty have provided
mentorship to more than 60 pre- and postdoctoral fellows, supported
by a variety of funding sources. The incredible synergy and long history
of collaboration between NMPT clinical and basic science faculty mentors
has led to the evolution of several productive Translational
Research Programs, which are well integrated within the NMPT program.
Who is eligible to apply for a position on the training grant? All individuals supported by this grant mechanism must be US citizens or non-citizen nationals (permanent residents). Students on temporary or student visas are not eligible. Student must be enrolled in the Rehabilitation Science, Health and Human Performance or Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences graduate program at the University of Florida and be in good academic standing. Completion of at least one year of graduate coursework is preferred.
Trainees are expected to be committed to full-time research training.
Trainees will be offered a structured didactic program involving research
methodology, specialized courses and seminars in neuroplasticity,
muscle physiology and translational research and rehabilitation. The
ultimate goal of the program is to help build a critical mass of well-trained
scientists prepared to conduct cutting-edge rehabilitation related
research. NMPT Training Program Curriculum The NMPT didactic program is designed to fill graduate program curriculum
gaps in the areas of neuroplasticity, rehabilitation, exercise physiology,
and translational research. Other needs of students that are not uniformly
met by departmental curricula are the ethical conduct of research,
training in scientific dissemination, and grant writing. To meet these
needs and to ensure a common foundation of knowledge across trainees
each predoctoral NMPT trainee will take a set of required courses,
supplemented with specialized, elective courses. In addition, each
trainee is required to attend and participate in regular interdisciplinary
seminar series, discussions and journal clubs focused around neuromuscular
plasticity and rehabilitation. To ensure exposure to both clinical
research and basic science methodologies, all trainees are also required
to spend at least one semester in the laboratory of the Translational
Research Co-Advisor. Most trainees will have extensive interaction
with several clinical and basic science faculty mentors throughout
their training. Finally, trainees will present their research during
a formal graduate seminar series (Neuromuscular
Plasticity Noons) and an Annual
Symposium. Trainees also will attend national and international
scientific meetings within their areas of expertise. What is the level of stipend support for trainees supported by this grant? The stipend for this program is currently $20,777 per year. The grant also covers tuition/fees, health insurance, travel and training related expenses.
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The
Neuromuscular Plasticity Training program (NMPT) is specifically
designed to provide pre-doctoral trainees with the foundation and
skills needed to become independent investigators and future leaders
in rehabilitation. Upon entering the program, each trainee prepares
an individualized career development plan under the guidance of
an experienced Faculty Mentor and Translational Research Co-Advisor.
The
individualized plan consists of a structured didactic program, specialized
courses, journal clubs and seminars, laboratory research and multiple
scientific dissemination experiences. Trainees learn cutting edge
research methodologies and acquire extensive research experience.
Most importantly, they generate, analyze, present and publish research
data. In addition to the close mentorship provided by the faculty
mentor and translational research co-advisor, the trainees benefit
from close interactions with clinical and basic science faculty
participating in established Collaborative Translational Research
Partnerships.
Faculty
Mentors
