Appointment Terms

The NUPEDHA supports two predoctoral trainees and three postdoctoral trainees for each year of grant funding. Pre-doctoral trainees may receive up to three years of support, and postdoctoral trainees may receive two years of training. In exceptional circumstances, a postdoctoral trainee may re-apply for third year of support so long as they meet eligibility requirements.

For each year of appointment, NUPEDHA trainees receive the following:

• Stipend based on current NIH/NRSA stipend budgetary levels. Mentors may supplement from non-sponsored funds (note: clinical fellows are compensated in accordance with policies of the McGaw Medical Center)
• A travel allowance to attend one national meeting annually
• A modest supply budget
• Tuition for graduate studies at Northwestern University

Postdoctoral Trainee Payback Obligation

After acceptance into the program and selection of a mentor, postdoctoral trainees are expected to perform two years of intensive research. As NRSA-supported trainees, NUPEDHA postdoctoral fellows incur a payback obligation during their first year of support, with the second year of training "paying back" the first year. For more information about payback agreements, visit our FAQ page. Predoctoral trainees do not incur a payback obligation.