Research Support & Development Faculty Physician-Scientist Collective Physician-Scientist Pathways Certificate Clinical Trialist Training Program Physician-Scientist Training Program NIH Resubmission Program Incentive Programs & Pilot Programs Residents & Fellows Postdocs & Career Scientists NIH Boot Camp Graduate & Medical Students Undergraduates Grant & Funding Services Guidance, Training & Resources Active Training Grants Funding Opportunities NIH Resources & Webinars Timeline of Funding and Training Opportunities Guidance for Proposal Submissions Biostatistical Resources NIH K and F Submissions Guide Training Grant Support FAQ Contact Us Physician-Scientist Pathways Certificate Office of Research — Research Support & Development Home Research Office of Research Office of Research: Research Support & Development Office of Research: Research Support & Development > Faculty Office of Research: Research Support & Development > Faculty > Physician-Scientist Pathways Certificate Overview The School of Medicine Office of Research offers the Physician-Scientist Pathways Certificate course for junior faculty, fellows and residents. This program empowers physician-scientists to combine their clinical expertise with advanced scientific research skills, ultimately advancing progress in individual and population health. Our goal is to ensure UC Irvine continues to deliver top-tier patient care by cultivating physicians who harness ongoing breakthroughs and lead new research in their fields. Who Should Apply Residents, fellows and junior faculty physicians eager to pursue careers in basic, translational, clinical or epidemiology research will find this course essential. It goes beyond foundational knowledge; it empowers attendees to develop a personalized research training plan, setting the stage for future specialized research training. Program Structure The course is a six-week hybrid program requiring two hours of participation each week, offered at no tuition cost. It typically runs in the Fall (September and October) and consists of three in-person sessions and three asynchronous online sessions, which are completed independently. Weekly Schedule Week 1: Physician-Scientist Research Pathways and Opportunities (In-person) Week 2: Tools of Basic and Translational Research (Online) Week 3: Basics of Biostatistics and Epidemiology (Online) Week 4: Mentors and Collaborators (In-person) Week 5: Translational Tissue Models (Online) Week 6: Designing a Fundable Research Question and Training Plan (In-person) Please note: This course requires weekly assessments in accordance with the School of Medicine's certificate compliance policies. Program Objectives Understand the different types of biomedical research pathways and the types of training that are needed for each pathway. Understand the process of formulating a research question and how to search for funding opportunities (through PIVOT, etc.) Develop an individualized training plan to obtain the necessary research skills for further career development. Understand how the latest research and clinical tools can be applied. Obtain a fundamental understanding of the grant application process and what is required to assemble a grant application that could be funded. Application Requirements The application includes: Letter of Intent One-page letter of intent that outlines research interests and rationale/need for additional training Letter of Support A letter of support from the department chair, division chief, or program director confirming protected time for in-person activities Individual Commitment Individual commitment to attend all three in-person sessions Applicants receive a timely notice regarding their status (accepted/not accepted) in the program. Apply for the Fall 2025 Physician Scientist Pathways Certificate Course The application deadline is September 1, 2025. Apply Now Program Leadership Director Anand Ganesan, MD, PhDaganesan@hs.uci.edu Program Manager Mary Frances Ypma-Wong, PhDsomrd@uci.edu Have questions? For all program inquiries, please contact the School of Medicine Research Development Unit. Contact Us