Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Programme overview

The postdoctoral training programme provides concentrated, mentored research experience across basic, translational, and clinical biomedical disciplines. Trainees typically work under the supervision of a faculty mentor within a laboratory or clinical research group, gaining hands-on experience in experimental design, data analysis, and scientific communication while participating in the wider academic community.

What you'll study

Training is research-led rather than course-based; content depends on the mentor's laboratory and the trainee's project. Common elements include:

• Research methods: experimental techniques, experimental design, laboratory best practices, and reproducible science.
• Data skills: statistical analysis, bioinformatics, imaging or clinical data interpretation as relevant to the project.
• Scholarly activities: manuscript and grant writing, preparing conference presentations, and peer review.
• Professional development: ethics, mentorship training, teaching opportunities, and career planning workshops where available.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to hold a PhD, MD, DPhil, or equivalent research doctoral degree. Admission typically requires a defined research plan or project, identification of a willing faculty mentor, letters of recommendation, and evidence of research productivity and technical competence. Specific institutional appointments may also require compliance with clinical credentials, immigration regulations, and background checks.

Career prospects

Postdoctoral training prepares researchers for a range of paths: academic faculty positions, research scientist roles in industry or biotech, clinical investigator careers for clinician-scientists, and positions in regulatory affairs, scientific writing, or research management. The programme's emphasis on publishing, grant writing, and presenting work strengthens competitiveness for independent funding and leadership roles.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

Funding typically comes from a mixture of sources: mentor laboratory grants, institutional postdoctoral fellowships, external fellowships from foundations and governmental agencies, and industry-sponsored projects. Prospective trainees should discuss available support with their prospective mentor and explore individual fellowship opportunities to secure salary and research costs. Budgeting for benefits, conference travel, and relocation is an important part of planning a postdoctoral appointment.