Program Description
We will be offering two, 1-year postdoctoral fellowships funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), available to researchers who seek to improve or expand their ability to conduct interdisciplinary, translational neuroscience research in neurodevelopment and neurodevelopmental or mental health disorders.
Note: There is a possibility of a second year of support based on the success of our renewal application and/or the ability of individual Principal Investigators to support candidates independent of the T32.
Research Areas
Postdoctoral projects can encompass basic and/or clinical research and might include investigation into one or more of the following areas:
- Developmental psychopathology
- Interventional studies
- Molecular or behavioral neurogenetics
- Neuroimaging
- Neurobiology
- New diagnostic methods
- Outcomes research
Program Areas / Faculty Department Affiliations
Fellows with MD or PhD degrees conduct research during the program with mentors and advisors from the following areas:
- Computer Science
- Developmental / Behavioral Pediatrics
- Genetics
- Neurology
- Neurobiology
- Neuroradiology
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
- Psychology
Trainee Program
This training program provides trainees with the essential guidance, training, and mentoring critical to launching an independent career in academic research. The training program starts by recruiting the most talented trainees from MD/PhD, MD, and PhD programs who are interested in pursuing a career in translational neuroscience research and academia. Close interaction between T32 mentors and trainees are supplemented by a structured training program that provides a common knowledge base with respect to translational neuroscience research.
Supplemental work will focus on the Translational Neuroscience Seminar Series and Proseminars complemented by trainee-specific coursework. Administratively, the program consists of co-directors (Drs. Nelson & Glahn) and a group of 19 highly skilled and successful training faculty from a diverse array of disciplines.
How to Apply
Applicants should first consult the list of potential mentors and confirm that he or she is willing to serve as a primary mentor. Eligible candidates should submit one PDF via email to with the following documents: (1) trainee’s CV, (2) trainee’s research statement (maximum 2 pages) describing research interests and specifically why this training program was selected, and (3) names and contact information of two potential letter writers. Project proposals should clearly state the interdisciplinary nature of the project.
If selected for an interview, the following additional materials will be required: (4) two letters of support (one from the trainee’s mentor) and (5) the mentor’s NIH other support document.
Applications should be submitted by March 13, 2026, with the expectation that trainees will be selected by April 30 and may start as early as July 2026. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents with an MD and/or PhD (completed by the time training begins). Commitment to the goals of the program and strong academic and research credentials are important criteria used in the selection process.
Further inquiries can be made by reaching out directly at .
Faculty Mentors
| Mentor Name / Degree / Affiliation | Rank | Primary (& Secondary) Appointment(s) | Research Interest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anne Arnett, PhD Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital |
Assistant Professor | Developmental Medicine, Pediatrics | Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Brain-based biomarkers, ADHD |
| Mark Bear, PhD MIT |
Professor | Brain and Cognitive Sciences | Neuroscience |
| Michelle Bosquet Enlow, PhD Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital |
Associate Professor | Psychiatry | Neurodevelopmental Disorders |
| Stacy Drury, MD, PhD Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital |
Professor and Chair | Psychiatry | Neuropsychiatric Genetics |
| Susan Faja, PhD Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital |
Associate Professor | Pediatrics and Psychology in Psychiatry | Neurodevelopmental Disorders |
| Brielle Ferguson, PhD Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital |
Assistant Professor | Genetics and Genomics | Biomarkers of cognitive function |
| John Gabrieli, PhD MIT, Harvard Medical School |
Professor | Brain and Cognitive Sciences | Cognitive Neuroscience |
| David Glahn, PhD Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital |
Professor | Psychiatry | Neuropsychiatric Genetics, Affective and Psychotic Disorders |
| P. Ellen Grant, MD, MSc Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital |
Professor | Radiology and Pediatrics | Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science |
| Takao Hensch, PhD Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital |
Professor | Neurology | Development of Neural Circuits |
| Maria Jalbrzikowski, PhD Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital |
Associate Professor | Psychiatry | Neuroimaging-based markers of psychosis risk |
| April Levin, MD Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital |
Associate Professor | Neurology | Neurodevelopmental disorders, EEG, sensory processing |
| Jonathan Lipton, MD, PhD Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital |
Assistant Professor | Neurology | Neurodevelopment and Circadian Rhythms |
| Charles A. Nelson, PhD Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital |
Professor | Pediatrics and Neuroscience, Psychology in Psychiatry | Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience |
| Alexander Rotenberg, MD, PhD Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital |
Professor | Neurology | Brain Injury and Epilepsy |
| Mustafa Sahin, MD, PhD Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital |
Professor | Neurology, Neurobiology | Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Neuronal Connectivity |
| Beth Stevens, PhD Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital |
Associate Professor | Neurology | Synapses, Neuron-glia and Neural-immune Interactions |
| Mriganka Sur, PhD MIT |
Professor | Brain and Cognitive Sciences | Learning and Memory |
| Christopher Walsh, MD, PhD Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital |
Professor | Pediatrics and Neurology, Genetics and Genomics | Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Brain Development, Evolution, and Function |
| Carol Wilkinson, MD, PhD Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital |
Assistant Professor | Developmental Medicine, Pediatrics | Neurodevelopmental disorders, Early brain development, Brain-based biomarkers |
| Timothy Yu, MD, PhD Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital |
Associate Professor | Genetics and Genomics | Neurodevelopmental and Neurogenetic Diseases |