Training in Research
Research and Mentors
Tufts IRACDA scholars may apply to conduct their research with any tenured or tenure-track Tufts University faculty member who is investigating issues related to biomedical science. Tufts University researchers are located on all three campuses of Tufts University.
- The Health Science Campus in downtown Boston is home to the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, the School of Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, and the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. In addition, Tufts Medical Center, a major teaching affiliate of Tufts Medical School, and the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging are located on the Health Science Campus.
- The Medford Campus provides biomedical research opportunities in the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, and Psychology at the School of Arts & Sciences and in the Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Computer Science at the School of Engineering.
- The Grafton Campus is home to the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.
The web sites of each of the schools provide information about the research programs of our faculty.
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and School of Medicine
- Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy
- Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging
- Graduate College of Arts & Sciences
- School of Engineering
- Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
Please check the list of faculty who have indicated interest in mentoring a Tufts IRACDA scholar starting in the fall of 2023, along with their emails and a summary of their research focus. We encourage you to discuss the selection of a mentor with the Program Directors Claire Moore (claire.moore@tufts.edu) Boston and Grafton campuses) and Mitch McVey (mitch.mcvey@tufts.edu, Medford campus).
If you are considering a lab on the Grafton campus, please indicate in your application that you have considered the logistics of the commute between campuses and the need to attend multiple in-person IRACDA meetings on the Boston or Medford campuses.
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Tufts IRACDA is committed to providing scholars with strong support for their research activities. In keeping with this philosophy, the program has developed Research Guidelines
to ensure that scholars and their mentors are familiar with the support that is available to them and are aware of the expectations that have been set forth for all Tufts IRACDA scholars.
Scholar Mentoring Team
Each scholar also assembles a Scholar Mentoring Team (SMT) which provides mentorship as the scholar moves through the program and prepares for the transition to a faculty position. The SMT is a valuable component of the IRACDA training and one not available to most postdocs interested in academic careers. As described in the SMT guidelines, the SMT works much like mentoring teams most universities set up for junior faculty, and in doing so, helps the scholars get the most out of their postdoctoral training and prepare them for a successful job search. The goals of the SMT meetings, which take place twice yearly, are:
- To serve as a resource for the scholars as they plan and carry out their postdoctoral research and to ensure that the scholars will have developed a project that will result in first-author publications and can be used to establish an independent research program.
- To help the scholars develop skills in scientific writing and presentation by providing feedback on the written research reports, manuscript and grant drafts, oral research presentations, and practice job seminars.
- To provide advice on issues regarding mentoring, responsible conduct of research, and the job search and negotiations process.
- To help the scholars develop the time management, prioritization, and planning skills critical for academic success.