NIH T32 training grants help prepare next generation of research leaders
“An investment in the future of my field” is how Elizabeth Strickland, a professor in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, describes her involvement in the National Institutes of Health T32 training grant program. As the director of Purdue’s NIH T32 program focused on communicative disorders, Strickland was drawn to the program because she viewed it as a “powerful mechanism for funding and supporting graduate students and postdocs.”
The T32 program is an NIH initiative designed to bolster biomedical and behavioral research training in the U.S. Officially known as the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Institutional Research Training Grant, the NIH T32 program provides stipends, travel money, and training-related expenses for predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees while equipping them with the skills and experience necessary to become leaders in their fields.
Unlike fellowship programs that fund an individual, NIH T32 grants are awarded to institutions to support larger training programs. The training programs consist of a group of faculty mentors — typically 15-30 — who share a common interest in a health-related research area and who are interested in training graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in this area. In addition to a formal curriculum, these training programs allow universities like Purdue to combine rigorous research training with professional development opportunities like grant writing, mentorship and teaching experience. Funded programs typically include mentorships from experienced investigators, opportunities for interdisciplinary research, and access to state-of-the-art facilities. This comprehensive approach helps trainees develop both technical expertise and the critical-thinking skills essential for successful research careers.
Strickland added that a critical aspect of the program is having devoted faculty members serve as mentors. “This is a richly rewarding experience for both faculty and students. I often describe the experience as ‘mentoring in all directions.’ Faculty open new doors and opportunities for students, while students bring new perspectives and approaches.”
Since 2010, Purdue has had 11 different T32 programs funded by NIH. These programs have been in auditory neuroscience; speech, language and hearing; drug discovery; drug discovery in infectious disease; bioengineering for diabetes research; molecular biophysics; comparative pathobiology; ingestive behavior; and aging and the life course. Five of these programs were funded for at least 19 years. One program is now entering its 34th year, providing funding for over 100 graduate students.
Another research faculty member who sees NIH T32s as offering several long-term benefits is John Tesmer, the Walther Distinguished Professor in Cancer Structural Biology and director of Purdue’s NIH T32 Molecular Biophysics Training Program. Tesmer finds serving as a T32 mentor to be highly rewarding. “I am proud of this program because it allows us to work with the ‘cream of the crop’ and gives students specialized training that will support them in their careers,” he said. “It is a pleasure to get to know and get to play a role in the development of some of the future leaders in our field. Interestingly, these students also serve as a bridge that helps mentors connect and collaborate with other faculty across Purdue. It really opens possibilities for both students and faculty.”
Recognizing the complexity of preparing and administering training grants, the Office of Research and the Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars have established a process to foster the development and administration of these programs. Support is provided for identifying faculty mentors with relevant expertise and preparing T32-specific documents for a compelling proposal. Best practice guidance is also provided for proposal development, administration and sustainability of these NIH T32 awards, which can run for over 30 years. Faculty members interested in learning more can contact the Strategic Interdisciplinary Research division of the Office of Research at sir@purdue.edu.
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