Harvard-Vision Clinical Scientist Development Program (K12)

K12 Program

Background
The extraordinary growth and specialization of the sciences over the past several decades has made it increasingly difficult to link the divide between clinical and basic science components of ophthalmic and vision sciences. The less-than-optimal degree of cross-talk between scientists engaged in studying fundamental biological processes and clinicians providing care to patients has had multiple deleterious effects. Continued external factors are expected to impact this trend negatively in the foreseeable future. Traditional approaches, based purely on didactic curricula, to “teach” basic sciences to highly-trained clinicians are only variably effective as they offer limited opportunity to these clinicians for hands-on experience in designing and conducting studies. Additionally, many clinicians engaged in pure clinical (vs. bench-based) research have had very limited formal training in methodological aspects of clinical study design and execution. To address these needs, the K12 Program is seeking to recruit and train clinician scientists as detailed below.

About the Harvard-Vision Clinical Scientist Development Program (K12)
Harvard Ophthalmology is one of the leading and largest academic departments of Ophthalmology in the nation and a major recipient of National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding. With nearly 190 full-time clinical and basic science faculty, Harvard Ophthalmology continues to make significant contributions to ophthalmic and vision research in virtually all basic, applied, and clinical subspecialty areas. 

The Harvard-Vision Clinical Scientist Development Program (K12) offers a customized and structured learning, research, and development experience to a select group of qualified clinically-trained candidates who have recently completed (or are about to complete) their training and who desire to become independent leading clinical scientists in their respective fields. 

Trainees in the Harvard-Vision Clinical Scientist Development Program (K12) program will:
  1. complete a core curriculum which includes the Harvard Program in Clinical Effectiveness (PCE) – a summer-long immersion program in biostatistics, epidemiology, study design, and outcomes measurement – and the Harvard Medical School HBTM 305qc “Molecular Bases of Eye Disease” survey course, which focuses on the biological mechanisms (genetics, immunology, neuroscience, vascular biology) of eye disease;
  2. perform research in an actively mentored program under the guidance of Harvard Ophthalmology faculty who are leaders in their respective fields, with the express objective of developing into independent investigators;
  3. have the option of seeking an advanced degree (MS, MPH, PhD, ScD) at Harvard University.

Application Information
This program is funded by the National Institutes of Health. We are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.  Women & Minorities are encouraged to apply.

Positions are available throughout the Harvard Ophthalmology system for July 1 of the next academic year based on grant funding. The next application deadline will be November 15, 2017.

Eligibility criteria:
  • subspecialty/fellowship-trained board-certified/eligible ophthalmologists or optometrists; 
  • US citizens or who have Resident Alien status (Green Card);
  • willing to commit, at the level of Junior Faculty, 75% or more of their time to structured research (up to 25% clinical work) and development program under the mentorship of one of our senior faculty;
  • a commitment duration of two to three years based on the interests of the candidate and the nature of the mentored training program.

Application materials:
Interested applicants can contact Linda Benson at 617-912-7401 or linda_benson@meei.harvard.edu for an application. In addition please submit:
  1. a complete curriculum vitae
  2. 1-2 page letter of intent describing how this mechanism will further your career in vision science
  3. 1-2 page scientific proposal
  4. 3 letters of recommendation 
to

Reza Dana, MD, Msc, MPH
K12 Director
c/o Linda Benson
Massachusetts Eye and Ear
20 Staniford St.
Boston, MA 02114


Applicants should also identify a mentor (or mentors) within the Harvard faculty or MIT community and contact them to discuss potential mentor relationship if accepted into the program.

Scope of Research and List of Mentors

Below are tables listing ophthalmic subspecialty areas and academic disciplines (with related faculty) offered through the Harvard-Vision Clinical Scientist Development Program.

Institution Key

BWH

Brigham & Women’s Hospital

BCH

Boston Children’s Hospital

HMS

Harvard Medical School

HSPH

Harvard School of Public Health

HU

Harvard University

JDC

Joslin Diabetes Center

MEE

Massachusetts Eye and Ear

MGH

Massachusetts General Hospital

SERI

Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass. Eye and Ear

Table 1. Subspecialty Areas

Ocular Area of Concentration

Mentors & Faculty

(may be listed in >1 area of expertise)

Institution

Cornea & Anterior Segment

Pablo Argüeso, PhD

Reza Dana, MD, MSc, MPH

Darlene Dartt, PhD

Ula Jurkunas, MD

James Zieske, PhD

SERI

MEE & SERI

SERI

SERI & MEE

SERI

Glaucoma

Louis Pasquale, MD

Janey L. Wiggs, MD, PhD

MEE

MEE

Inherited Retinopathies & Retinal Degeneration

Eric Pierce, MD, PhD

Neena Haider, PhD

MEE

SERI

Low Vision

Alex Bowers, PhD

David G. Hunter, MD, PhD (pediatric)

Eli Peli, OD, MSc

SERI

BCH

SERI

Macular Degeneration

Kip Connor, PhD

Dean Eliott, MD

Joan Miller, MD

Demetrios Vavvas, MD, PhD

MEE

MEE

MEE

MEE

Ocular Genomics

Luk Vandenberghe, PhD

SERI

Ocular Inflammation & Microbiology

James Chodosh, MD, MPH

Reza Dana, MD, MSc, MPH

Michael Gilmore, PhD

MEE

MEE & SERI

MEE

Pediatric Ophthalmology

Elizabeth Engle, MD

David G. Hunter, MD, PhD

BCH

BCH

Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy

Lloyd Paul Aiello, MD, PhD

Robert D’Amato, MD, PhD

Patricia D’Amore, PhD

Joan Miller, MD

Lois Smith, MD, PhD

Demetrios Vavvas, MD, PhD

JDC

BCH & MEE

SERI

MEE

BCH

MEE

Retinal Physiology & Development

Connie Cepko, PhD

Kip Connor, PhD

Richard Masland, PhD

HMS

MEE

MEE

Tear Film & Ocular Surface

Reza Dana, MD, MSc, MPH

Darlene Dartt, PhD

Ilene Gipson, PhD

David Sullivan, PhD

James Zieske, PhD

SERI

SERI

SERI

SERI

SERI

Visual Attention

Jeremy Wolfe, PhD

BWH

Table 2. Academic Disciplines

Academic Discipline

Mentors & Faculty

(may be listed in >1 area of expertise)

Institution

Biostatistics & Epidemiology

Robert Glynn, ScD

Louis Pasquale, MD

Meir Stampfer, MD, DrPH

BWH

MEE

HSPH

Cell Biology

Ilene Gipson, PhD

Ula Jurkunas, MD

James Zieske, PhD

SERI

SERI & MEE

SERI

Clinical Trials

Francis Cook, ScD, MS

Dean Eliott, MD

Robert Glynn, ScD

Joan Miller, MD

Louis Pasquale, MD

HMS, PCE

MEE

BWH

MEE

MEE

Genetics

Connie Cepko, PhD

Elizabeth Engle, MD

Eric Pierce, MD, PhD

Janey Wiggs, MD, PhD

HMS

BCH

MEE

MEE

Gene Therapy

Luk Vandenberghe, PhD

SERI

Genetic Models & Gene Therapy

Neena Haider, PhD

SERI

Immunology & Microbiology

Pablo Argüeso, PhD

James Chodosh, MD, MPH

Reza Dana, MD, MSc, MPH

Michael Gilmore, PhD

SERI

MEE

MEE & SERI

MEE

Matrix Remodeling & Angiogenesis

Lloyd Paul Aiello, MD, PhD

Kip Connor, PhD

Patricia D’Amore, PhD

Reza Dana, MD, MSc, MPH

Joan Miller, MD

JDC

MEE

SERI

MEE & SERI

MEE

Neurobiology

Larry Benowitz, PhD

John Dowling, PhD

Elizabeth Engle, MD

Richard Masland, PhD

BCH

HMS, Bio Labs

BCH

MEE

Optics

Alex Bowers, PhD

Eli Peli, OD

SERI

SERI

Physiology

Darlene Dartt, PhD

David Hunter, MD, PhD

David Sullivan, PhD

James Zieske, PhD

SERI

BCH

SERI

SERI

Vascular & Endothelial Biology

Lloyd Paul Aiello, MD, PhD

Kip Connor, PhD

Patricia D’Amore, PhD

Lois Smith, MD, PhD

JDC

MEE

SERI

BCH