Women’s Reproductive Health Research Career Development Program (WRHR)

Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in collaboration with University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Gynecologic Oncology has been awarded a highly competitive grant from National Institute of Health (NIH) to enhance academic career development for the Ob/Gyn physician investigator. The Baylor WRHR Center Program provides training toward academic independence for Obstetricians and Gynecologists pursuing molecular and other research in a variety of areas relevant to women's reproductive health: Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Gynecologic Oncology, Urogynecology, Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, Reproductive Genetics, and other disciplines. Prior laboratory experience and training in research methodologies is preferred but not obligated.

Scholars will receive intense mentoring from nationally recognized leaders and are provided training and instruction to an independent scientific career addressing women's reproductive health concerns. Selection can be made from among mentors located in Baylor Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Molecular and Human Genetics, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Medicine, and Pathology, or M.D. Anderson Department of Gynecologic Oncology. Several of these Departments are number 1 in NIH funding, or in the very top tier of U.S. medical schools. Baylor is especially strong in genetics and has 4 faculty dually certified in Ob/Gyn and medical genetics.

Candidates and their selected mentor will prepare an application detailing prior research and educational experiences, proposed educational research, and the mentoring plan for the WRHR award. All applicants will be reviewed by the advisory committee. All WRHR scholars will be required to take five didactic courses and seminars encompassing women's health issues and the fundamentals of clinical investigation and academic success. The goal is for the scholar to submit an NIH grant in 2-3 years.

Positions provide research support and salary at the level of Assistant Professor for a minimum of 2 years and up to 5 years. Individuals are expected to spend a minimum of 75 percent of full-time professional effort conducting research and research career development. Salary will be in accordance with experience and achievement. This program is a K-12 faculty-mentored program funded through NICHD.

Like all K-level NIH awards, successful candidates must be U.S. citizens or non-citizen nationals, or must have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence and possess an Alien Registration Receipt Card (I-151 or I-551) or some other verification of legal admission as a permanent resident. Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible. At the time support begins, the candidates may not have served as a principal investigator or equivalent on an NIH research project (R01), Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01), Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award (K08) or their equivalent, a subproject of a program project (P01) or center grant (P50, U54), or equivalent PHS research grant awards.

For additional information about the program and how to apply, please contact the WRHR Principal Investigator at Baylor, Joe Leigh Simpson, M.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (jsimpson@bcm.tmc.edu), Principal Investigator at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, David M. Gershenson, M.D., Professor and Chair, Gynecologic Oncology (dgershen@mdanderson.org), or WRHR Associate Program Director, Haleh Sangi, Ph.D. (halehs@bcm.tmc.edu).