The Physician Scientist Research Fellowship program at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, is a two-year intensive research fellowship for residents or clinical fellows in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, in which you will work with a principal investigator at Mayo Clinic.

The goal is to train you to become a future extramurally funded independent investigator. Selection of the principal investigator mentor is made by you, subject to approval by the program. The program maintains a dynamic list of principal investigators at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

You are expected to complete research under the mentorship of the selected and approved principal investigator, present, and publish your work, and apply for extramural funding (for example, K-award). You will learn how to ask important research questions, design experiments, and interpret data at an advanced level. (It is expected that the successful applicant will already have significant skills in these areas.) You will also begin to learn how to run a research program, with a view towards becoming a future principal investigator.

As a fellow, you will have:

• Access to robust research resources
• Understanding of Mayo Clinic IRB, IACUC, and IBC systems
• Access to Mayo Clinic’s library
• Access to the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology’s Biorespiratory Laboratory services
• Oversight of research and career development by group independent from the selected principal investigator/mentor
• Opportunity to participate in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology’s monthly Academic Skills Lecture Series and Research Conferences, where both internal and external speakers present relevant research topics

Mayo Clinic has a plethora of resources to support research, including:

• Readily accessible statistical support
• Graphic design and media services
• Publication services
• The Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology Research Innovation Office, providing support for drafting and submitting IRB protocols as well as assistance with patient recruitment and consent services

These services make it possible to perform high-value research, as there is support taking care of administrative aspects, allowing a focus on science.

Evaluation

To ensure that you acquire adequate knowledge and develop the appropriate technical skills to meet program expectations, your performance will be monitored. You will be formally evaluated by your principal investigator/mentor on a quarterly basis. In addition to assessing research progress, faculty also assess professionalism and interpersonal and communication skills.