2025 Call for Trainees -- Deadline for consideration: April 11, 2025

We invite applications for predoctoral students to participate in the NIH-funded training grant focused on musculoskeletal health (MuSCLE) at UC Davis, which is jointly administered by the Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering. Students will enjoy team-based mentoring from a mechanistic and clinical mentor, observe clinical procedures in human and veterinary patients, engage clinicians on critical needs to improve the quality of life of patients affected with musculoskeletal disease, complete relevant hands-on coursework, and receive support in preparation of independent grant funding (i.e., F31). Training will take place in the lab of the student’s principal investigator at the UC Davis or UC Davis Health campuses. The preceptors are internationally respected scientists devoted to musculoskeletal research with a special focus on cartilage, bone, and muscle biology, tissue biomechanics, osteoarthritis, tissue engineering and regeneration, stem cell biology, small molecule therapeutics, models of bone-associated cancers and disease, and biomaterials as implants. Our preceptors include diverse faculty from four different schools and colleges (School of Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Engineering, and College of Biological Sciences). Deadline for consideration is April 11, 2025.

ELIGIBILITY

• Nominees must be in their 1^st or 2^nd year of graduate study at UC Davis.
• Nominees must be US citizens or have permanent residency to be funded in an NIH training slot.
• Trainees must participate in all Training Program Activities and commit to a 12-calendar month appointment.
• All publications must cite the NIAMS MuSCLE T32 training grant (T32AR079099).
• A semi-annual progress report will be required. 

It is essential that the nominees be students with the best potential of becoming first-rate independent musculoskeletal health researchers, evidenced by prior research experience and success of the mentor in training independent scientists. The research proposal, mentorship letters, progress and participation are highly valued. Scholastic achievement, innovation, diversity, collaborations between laboratories, and crossing traditional boundaries are also important in the selection process. 

APPLICATION

1. Research statement: includes a brief description of candidate’s prior research and proposed project (2 pages max) and statement of motivation to participate in this musculoskeletal health research training program (1 page max).
2. NIH biosketches for applicant and faculty mentor (with Other Support)
3. Current graduate school transcript
4. Nomination letter from the faculty mentor that clearly details the training environment, mentorship and development plan, and commitment to the MuSCLE T32 training program.
5. Second letter of support for the nominee.
6. Combine all documents into a single PDF. Be sure to include your last name in file path (e.g., Lastname.2025MUSCLET32.pdf)

SEND APPLICATIONS TO:

Kent Leach, PhD

Program Director and Professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery

jkleach@ucdavis.edu

The University of California, Davis is an equal opportunity employer, committed to excellence through training students that reflect the population of California.