ECU Basic Biomedical Sciences Research Training Program (ECU-BSRT)

Funded by a T32 award (1 T32GM164047-01) from the National Institutes of Health, the ECU Basic Biomedical Sciences Research Training Program (ECU-BSRT) is designed to

  1. increase the number of highly trained biomedical scientists entering the workforce;
  2. strengthen ECU’s biomedical research training environment; and
  3. equip graduates with skills transferable to a variety of positions in the biomedical research workforce.

Through this program, an interdisciplinary and collaborative team of researchers delivers a rigorous, well-designed curriculum and provides mentored research experiences to prepare trainees with the technical, operational, and professional skills required for a broad range of careers in the biomedical research workforce.

Trainees accepted to the program are eligible for a comprehensive package of support (renewable for up to two years) aimed at enhancing both research productivity and career readiness. Benefits include:

  • Annual stipend at NIH rate (currently $29,364), with potential supplements depending on the PhD program/department
  • In-State Tuition
  • Healthcare coverage (if needed)
  • Childcare support funds (up to $3,000 annually, if applicable)
  • Training-related support, including funding for research supplies and travel to scientific conferences.

Beyond financial support, this program emphasizes high-impact training and professional development. Trainees will become part of a collaborative, interdisciplinary cohort and participate in weekly professional development sessions designed to maximize research success and prepare them for diverse biomedical career pathways. Program features include:

  • Guided grant proposal development
  • Participation in mock study sections to build peer review skills
  • Structured exposure to career pathways in biomedical sciences
  • Access to distinguished faculty preceptors, selected for their exceptional training and mentorship track records

To be eligible for participation in the program, students must meet all of the following:

  • Acceptance into one of the following ECU programs: Bioenergetics and Exercise Sciences, PhD; Biomedical Sciences, PhD; or Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program in Biology, Biomedicine, and Chemistry.
  • Entering the first year of doctoral studies.
  • Be a citizen or a noncitizen national of the United States or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence at the time of appointment.

Multiple PI Leadership Team

Debra L. Jackson, PhD
Director of Research Training Programs and Grant Initiatives
Office of Research, Economic Development and Engagement

Keith L. Keene, PhD
Associate Dean for Research
Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences

Karen A. Litwa, PhD
Director of Graduate Studies
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology

Ariane L. Peralta, PhD
Professor of Biology
Department of Biology

Project Coordinator

TBN

Program Evaluator

Guili Zhang, PhD
Professor of Educational Foundations
Department of Educational Leadership and Foundations

ECU-BSRT Advisory Board

  • Debra Jackson, mPI
  • Keith Keene, mPI
  • Karen Litwa, mPI
  • Ariane Peralta, mPI
  • Chris Buddo, Provost
  • Sharon Paynter, Chief Research Officer
  • Stephanie George, Interim Dean, Graduate School
  • Jason Higginson, Dean, Brody School of Medicine
  • Reide Corbett, Interim Dean, Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences
  • Nicole Bromfield, Dean, College of Health and Human Sciences
  • Guili Zhang, Project Evaluator