The Department of Psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine has a long-standing tradition of training researchers who become international leaders in the field.
Post-doctoral training
Our career development efforts are fueled by four training grants that support post-graduate research training in genetics, public health and prevention, neuroscience, and behavioral medicine. Productive postdoctoral trainees are encouraged to transition to faculty positions within the department with NIH-funded career development (K) awards.
The success of the research training program is reflected not only within the Department of Psychiatry, but more broadly within the Washington University community with faculty members in the Departments of Genetics, Radiology and Psychological and Brain Sciences, and the School of Social Work having trained in the department’s postdoctoral program.
Graduates of the research training program are also among the faculty at numerous academic institutions, including Yale University, Northwestern University, University of Chicago, Brown University, Indiana University, University of Florida, and St. Louis University among others.
Faculty support
Over the past fifteen years, more than 75% of departmental K-awardees have transitioned to independent grant funding and over 93% have remained in academia (n=30, 12 MDs and 18 PhDs).
As of July 2016, the department features 12 faculty members with career development grants, including 4 MDs and 8 PhDs. With continued mentorship, these individuals are well positioned to compete for independent grant funding.
Continuing education
As part of career development, faculty members are encouraged to seek leadership training through formal courses within Washington University in St. Louis and the BJC Health System, which includes Barnes-Jewish Hospital, where most faculty work and teach.
The university’s Institute for Public Health, conveniently located on the Medical Campus, is a interdepartmental collaborative effort that brings together several graduate programs beneficial to clinicians, including a Master of Population Health Sciences program and a Masters of Science in Clinical Investigation. Many of our faculty members participate in these programs.
The department also offers mini-courses in career development under the auspices of an “assistant professor school”, focusing on grant writing, time management and research relationships with mentors and colleagues.