Research Training on Persons Living with Alzheimer’s and Disease Related Dementias and Other Older Vulnerable Adult Populations

The Division of General Internal Medicine and the Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai offer a 2-year, interdisciplinary research training fellowship focused on people with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias and other older adult vulnerable populations (OAVP). Areas of emphasis include health services research and policy, epidemiology, behavioral health, psychosocial and socioeconomic contributors to health, and translational research.

The overarching goal of this postdoctoral research training program is to launch the careers of a new generation of researchers who are prepared to apply a multidisciplinary approach to research at the intersection of geriatric medicine and vulnerable populations.

The program prepares scholars for successful research careers through:

  1. Research Training that provides well-matched interdisciplinary mentorship teams, diverse project opportunities, promotion of interdisciplinary collaboration, excellent research didactics through degree granting programs [MPH, MS], research skills development specific to the challenges of working with OAVP, and training in the responsible conduct of research;
  2. Insight into Clinical Care and Experiences of OAVP patients through limited clinical geriatrics training involving didactics and direct care responsibilities or shadowing for non-clinician scientists
  3. Professional Career Skills Building through seminars on manuscript and grant writing and oral presentation skills, networking and collaboration opportunities, and exposure to non-academic careers to broaden perspectives on professional avenues for improving care and outcomes for OAVP.

Launched in 2020, the training program recruits two new post-doctoral scholars each academic year. Over 20 faculty researchers and a large team of research staff support the efforts and learning of trainees.

Eligible candidates will have an MD, DO, PhD or equivalent doctoral degree and a demonstrated commitment to a research career that focuses on older adult populations. Stipend and tuition are provided along with an allowance for travel and research expenses.

The program’s goals are to:

  1. Develop scholars’ insight into the causal factors of health outcomes and potential targets for improvements in the care of OAVP
  2. Develop scholars’ interdisciplinary research skills
  3. Build scholars’ insight into the experiences of vulnerable older adults
  4. Foster scholars’ appreciation for interdisciplinary research
  5. Launch scholars’ into successful research careers

The core mentoring faculty is multidisciplinary, including experts in geriatric and palliative medicine, health services research, health disparities, epidemiology, comparative effectiveness, behavioral psychology, genetics, neuroscience, biostatistics and clinical trials.

This is a non-ACGME program.

We accept applications on a rolling basis in the fall-winter preceding the fellowship start date (July 1 of each year). To apply, submit the following materials here: 

  1. A cover letter describing yourself and your interests in the OAVP post-doctoral fellowship training; 
  2. Your curriculum vitae; 
  3. Information about your citizenship and/or visa status. 

Three letters of recommendation will be required after the initial screening process, though these can be sent initially if desired. Letters of recommendation should be from faculty members who are familiar with the applicant's qualifications. One of these letters must be from the director of the current or most recent clinical training program. 

Please direct all inquiries to: 

Name: Jaclyn Verity
Title: Program Coordinator
Address: 1216 5th Ave, Suite 551, New York, NY 10029
Phone: (212) 824-7981
Fax: (212) 824-2317
Email: jaclyn.verity@mountsinai.org

Minority Applicants 

We encourage members of underrepresented minority groups to apply. Many research projects conducted by the faculty focus on the care of minority or underserved populations.

Jacqueline Becker, PhD is a licensed clinical neuropsychologist who joined the Division of General Internal Medicine (DGIM) at Mount Sinai as an Associate Scientist in July 2019. She completed her doctoral degree at Fordham University, doctoral residency at Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital, and a two-year clinical neuropsychology post-doctoral fellowship in the Department of Neurology at Northwell Health. Dr. Becker’s research interests have broadly involved an interdisciplinary approach to how cognitive functioning impacts and is impacted by chronic illness, particularly in elderly and underserved populations. More specifically, her research is focused on the impact of cognitive dysfunction on medical and psychosocial outcomes in older adults, as well as health behaviors (e.g., medication adherence) that contribute to those outcomes.

Maria Loizos, PhD is a licensed clinical neuropsychologist in the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC), a clinical supervisor in the Adult Neuropsychology Center and Adult Psychology Internship Program, and an Instructor in the Department of Psychiatry at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She completed her predoctoral internship training with specialization in neuropsychology at Staten Island University Hospital (Northwell Health) and her postdoctoral fellowship in neuropsychology in the Department of Psychiatry at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.  She received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology with a minor in clinical neuropsychology from Yeshiva University, Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology. Dr. Loizos provides neuropsychological consultations for adult patients with memory loss and dementia.  She also trains psychology doctoral candidates to administer neuropsychological tests and interpret cognitive data.  Dr. Loizos's recent research projects focus on developing clinical tools to improve brain health in diverse elderly populations.