NMPT Fact Sheet
What is the T32 training grant and what is its purpose?
The training grant is a 5-year award from the NIH National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research. This program in rehabilitation and neuromuscular plasticity provides an interdisciplinary environment that is fundamental to the advancement of rehabilitation research and uniquely prepares pre-doctoral graduate students for translational research in neuromuscular plasticity.
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.
What are the criteria for acceptance into the program?
These criteria include the following:
1) Strong academic credentials
2) A strong rehabilitation and neuromuscular plasticity research interest
3) A strong commitment to a research career
How do individuals apply to the program and what is the application deadline?
A complete application must include the following:
1) a curriculum vitae
2) a brief description of research interests and career goals and how participation
in the training grant may help you reach these goals
3) three letters of recommendation
4) graduate coursework summary including grades
Application materials should be submitted to Ellen L. Esparolini, Coordinator, Research Programs at: eesparol@phhp.ufl.edu. The applications will be reviewed by the Program Director Krista Vandenborne, PT, PhD and Co-Directors, Paul Reier, PhD, and Andrea Behrman, PT, PhD.
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 trainee-related expenses.
What are the expectations of the trainees?
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 in 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.
Who are the participating faculty mentors
in the Neuromuscular Plasticity Training Program?
| Neuroscience | |
| Stephen Blackband, PhD | Paul Reier, PhD |
| Ronald Hayes, PhD | Dennis Steindler, PhD |
| Dena Howland, PhD, OT | Floyd Thompson, PhD |
| Jeffrey Kleim, PhD | |
| Physical Therapy | |
| Andrea Behrman, PhD, PT | Kathye Light, PhD, PT |
| David Fuller, PhD | Daniel Martin, PhD, PT |
| Steven George, PhD, PT | Carolyn Patten, PhD, PT |
| Steve Kautz, PhD | Krista Vandenborne, PhD, PT |
| Clinical & Health Psychology | Neurology |
| Bruce Crosson, PhD, ABPP/cn | Leslie Gonzalez-Rothi, PhD |
| Institute on Aging | Applied Physiology and Kinesiology |
| Christiaan Leeuwenburgh, PhD | Scott Powers, PhD |
| Molecular Genetics and Microbiology | Physiology & Functional Genomics |
| Barry Byrne, MD, PhD | Glenn Walter, PhD |
| Physiological Sciences | |
| Donald Bolser, PhD | |
| Paul Davenport, PhD | |
