About ERP

Degree Options.  The ERP program currently provides training for MS and PhD degrees.  By design, most of our students are training for a PhD.  While most of our MS students are postdoctoral trainees seeking additional training, we do consider MS applications from other applicants when we have room in our cohort.

Training Program and Environment.  ERP program leadership has dedicated almost 20 years to creating a robust, evidence-based, and student-focused training environment for our students.  We employ a deliberative, applicant-focused admissions process that allows us to identify promising and motivated future PhD students.  We seek out students who bring different perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds so that we can all learn together to conduct rigorous and meaningful scientific research.  We support our students by providing full funding (stipend, tuition and health insurance) so they can focus on their education and science.  We provide dedicated directors and a full-time program coordinator to follow student progress and ensure that our student-focused training philosophy is at the forefront of what we do.  We partner with campus groups, such as TEAM-Science and SciMed GRS, to ensure that eligible students gain access to additional training and development upon their arrival so that they can bring their full potential to their studies and research activities.  We require our students to formally identify their professional development goals and actively plan for their achievement, and require regular meetings with their committee to ensure clear communication and shared expectations.  We provide introductory and advanced training in the responsible conduct of research, so our students can identify and implement best practices and scientific norms.  We continue to offer training to MD fellows in our Degree Fellowship Track within ERP, ending in an MS degree, as having MD Postdoctoral and PhD Predoctoral trainees in the same classrooms greatly enhances the experience and training of all trainees.

As a result of our intentional and thoughtful approach to training, we are proud to report that we have long shown excellence in recruiting and training all of our students, and our non-traditional students in particular.  Students who join our program will find themselves in an inclusive and diverse environment, training side-by-side with high-achieving students from a variety of socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds, stages of life, and experience.   Evidence of our outstanding training outcomes can be viewed in our current student profiles, the career placement of our alumni, and our program statistics.  In 2018 we will implement for all Trainees Mentor and Mentee Training with CIMER, as pioneered in TEAM-Science, to further enhance the training experience for all involved in our program.