MAXImizing Training in MUScle Research (MAXIMUS)

The UC Irvine Muscle Biology and Disease Research Center (MBDRC) is pleased to announce the launch of a new NIH T32 in MAXImizing Training in MUScle Research (MAXIMUS). The goal of MAXIMUS is to enable PhD graduate students to become translational researchers who seek to understand muscle biology and decipher the mechanisms of its dysfunction in order to develop innovative strategies for effective diagnosis and treatment of muscular dystrophies (MDs). We emphasize highly collaborative multidisciplinary team science with exposure to both rigorous basic and clinical MD research.

We have opened the inaugural call for applicants to fill 2 pre-doctoral training slots with support beginning October 1st , 2024. Along with the support towards stipend and tuition/fees, travel support will be available for trainees to attend a relevant scientific meeting or workshop. Support is guaranteed for one year with renewal for a second year pending competitive renewal evaluation. We expect to have additional graduate student and postdoc slots in subsequent years of the T32.

Application deadline: July 8th, 2024, by 11:59 PM

Program Objectives and Trainee Requirements

MAXIMUS has three main objectives:

1. Gain knowledge of muscle biology and disease as well as patient experience and the process of drug development. This will be accomplished by taking the program offered courses, specific laboratory training/thesis research, and interactions with patient advocacy groups and industry representatives as well as visiting clinics.
2. Obtain rigorous multidisciplinary team research experience. This will be accomplished by laboratory
   research training in the program, many of which are built on inter-laboratory collaborations, as well as dual mentoring by basic and clinical mentors, and taking courses on responsible conduct of research (RCR) and rigor and reproducibility.
3. Gain knowledge and skills for effective career development. This will be accomplished through
   research as well as writing and presenting skill training and by participating in GPS-STEM workshops, career advising by mentoring committee and interactions with patient advocacy groups and industry representatives.

Trainee Requirements:

1. Enrollment in a muscle-centric journal club (one meeting/week) in Fall and Spring quarter and in a didactic Winter course (two meetings/week), rotating annually between bioinformatics-centric Systems Approaches to Muscle Biology and Disease and broader Muscle Biology and Disease courses. 
2. Attendance at the monthly MBDRC seminar series, taking place at noon on the 4^th Friday of each month, the annual UCI Neuromuscular Colloquium, and the program retreat in Spring.
3. Shadow clinicians treating neuromuscular diseases for 1 full day per quarter to gain exposure to treatment approaches and patient perspectives. 

Applicant Requirements

1. Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
2. Completed at least two years of their PhD program before Fall 2024 (third or fourth year).
3. Conducting thesis research in the area of muscle biology and/or neuromuscular disease.
   

Required Application Materials

1. NIH Biosketch of the applicant. Please follow NIH guidelines for fellowship biosketches: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms/biosketch.htm.
2. Nomination letter from the applicant’s thesis advisor (1-2 pages).
3. A project proposal, including an abstract, outlining the applicant’s research (2 page). 
   
   Please visit the application portal for additional guidelines on application materials.
   All application documents must be submitted online at https://redcap.link/MBDRC_MAXIMUS by July 8th, 2024 by 11:59 PM.
   Questions should be directed to Anastasia Gromova, agromova@uci.edu.