This unique mentored research fellowship allows medical students, postdocs, or new physicians that are interested in urologic oncology a year-long opportunity to work on innovative research projects with the Genitourinary Malignancies Disease Oriented Team (GUMDOT). The interdisciplinary research fellowship is directed by Brock O’Neil, MD, a core faculty member in the robust Surgical Population Analysis Research Core (SPARC).
Fellows will build strong relationships while working directly with excellent faculty mentors on diverse research projects and clinical involvements at one of the strongest urology programs in the nation. Past fellows have consistently achieved multiple first-author publications in prominent journals and successfully matched into their desired residency positions each year.
For more information or to apply to the research fellowship, please email researchfellowship@hci.utah.edu. Include a copy of your CV, one letter of recommendation, and a sample of your academic writing will be required to apply. The deadline is February 10, 2023. One research fellow is accepted per year.
Research Projects
Research fellows work primarily in urologic oncology but are able to get involved with projects in infertility, aging, life course epidemiology, and other urologic disciplines. The majority of the projects are clinical or epidemiologic-based outcomes studies. Fellows will have the opportunity to work on projects utilizing population-level genealogical data linked to half of a century of cancer diagnoses and environmental exposures throughout the life course, stored in the Utah Population Database (UPDB). They will also have access to 15 years of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result (SEER) nationwide cancer incidence data linked to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) administrative data. Fellows will assist with all aspects of the research process, from ideation all the way through manuscript preparation.
Responsibilities
The fellow's responsibilities are project-dependent and include submission of IRB applications, monitoring clinical studies in progress, data management and analysis, manuscript preparation and submission, and presentation of the data at regional and national meetings. Fellows will also assist with major grant writing including R01 submissions and smaller seed funding opportunities. Fellows will attend the Western Section of the AUA conference, as well as the national AUA Annual Meeting depending upon the status of their current research. Travel to other meetings relevant to the fellow’s goals and research is encouraged and supported, and may include: SUO Annual Meeting, ASCO Annual Meeting, GU ASCO, Academy Health’s Annual Research Meeting, and others.
Fellows will have the opportunity to help define their own individual goals for the year at the fellowship’s outset and are encouraged to work with faculty on research outside of the oncology team’s core projects as their time allows. Fellows are included in all resident programming, such as morning conferences and tumor board, and encouraged to enhance their experience by working with faculty and residents in the clinic and operating room on a regular basis.
Why Utah Urology?
Utah Urology is a national leader in both treating patients and training residents, with a robust research program that only continues to grow. Our research fellowship’s greatest strength is the degree of flexibility and customization allowed. What you do in your time with us is defined by what you hope to get out of the experience. Your mentors will work with you from day one to lay out your goals for the year and develop a path for you to achieve them. Thus, the experience is completely tailored to your individual strengths, weaknesses, and desires. Our tight-knit team is eager to help you be successful and will support you every step of the way on your journey towards a career in urology. For more detailed information, check out our Details & FAQs page.
