Fellowship in Clinical Trials

The applicant will select an established clinical trialist as a mentor and have a clinical trial concept. The project is ideally based on Penn science and one where the fellow will serve as a lead investigator.

Milestones will be established for each fellow. The product or output of this program is a fully developed trial that has opened to, and is ideally in the midst of, accrual by the end of year one. As a requirement of successful completion of the program the fellow will be expected to prepare a manuscript for submission or presentation at a national meeting.

Fellows will pursue a customized career development plan that may include coursework such as:

• Principles of drug development
• Clinical trial design and protocol development
• Operational study management, clinical trial execution
• Regulatory principles

The option to advance to a more formal existing degree program (MSCE or MSTR) will be made available.

Fellows will serve as an IRB member throughout the duration of the fellowship and be mentored by the IRB Chair. This membership experience will expose fellows to real issues, considerations, and solutions in human subjects research and study design. 

Effective mentoring requires that the primary mentor dedicate substantial time to ensure personal and professional development of the mentee. We recognize the importance of strong mentoring attributes and the significant time required to mentor effectively, thus experienced clinical trialists will serve in this role.

• Applicants will be committed to a career path in developing and implementing investigator initiated clinical trials
• Applicants must have an MD degree
• Applicants must be an Instructor or Assistant Professor at Penn as of July 1 2022
• If Assistant Professor, applicants must be in their first three years of appointment

ITMAT is providing a Clinical Trials Scholarship to support the Clinical Trials Fellows.

The Scholarship will provide:

• Up to 25% protected time to dedicate towards the fellowship for two years

The Clinical Trials Scholarship is part of the suite of ITMATEd Career Development Awards

Only one application is required for both the Fellowship Program and Fellowship Scholarship. All eligible applicants who apply during the fall application cycle are considered for the scholarship.

The application includes the following required items:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Personal statement: a one page description of the applicant’s career goals and how the fellowship will support these goals
• Research plan: 2-3 page description of proposed trial or clinical protocol
• Letter of Support from Primary Mentor
  • The mentor's letter of support should include the following:
    • The commitment to mentor the candidate
    • The suitability of the candidate for the fellowship
    • The mentor’s prior experience mentoring clinical researchers
    • Please comment on the candidate's access to clinical research support staff
    • As an appendix, the mentor should provide:
      • List of trials you have conducted as PI
      • Documentation to show how the trial is funded (ie budget, contract, or similar documentation)

To submit an application

1. Create a CollegeNet account. After logging into CollegeNet, select “Online Application”.
2. Enter your Personal Information.  Save and continue to Program Information. 
3. Search and select “Clinical Trials Fellowship"
   • Select "Summer 2022" term.
4. You can enter information in stages, at your own pace, and access the application any number of times until submission.
5. You will enter the recommender information into the system which will send the letter request to your primary mentor.
6. Once the application has been fully submitted, you can return to your account to check the status and also to remind your recommender if needed.

Please Note: Applications received after the deadline or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Learn more about the Previous Cohorts here.

• Coursework
  • ITMAT Education Courses
    • MTR/REG 510 provides sessions on budgeting and negotiation. 
  • UPenn Course Catalog
  • Ethics and Trial Design with Steven Joffe, MD, MPH
• Professional Development 
  • ITMAT Education Professional Skills Development Program (PSDP)

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