Applications now being accepted for unique federally funded autism research program

The National Institute of Mental Health is again funding a highly successful UC Davis program that has trained the next generation of autism researchers for more than two decades. Applications are currently being accepted.

The Autism Research Training Program, or ARTP, is an effort of the UC Davis MIND Institute and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. The two-year postdoctoral fellowship is for scholars with a Ph.D. in biomedical or behavioral science or an M.D., based in the United States. A stipend is included.

The initial deadline to apply is Sept. 1, but organizers expect rolling admissions for the next year.

'Extremely rigorous' multidisciplinary research

The fellowship is unique in its approach to preparing trainees for careers in autism research. The emphasis is on interdisciplinary work and collaboration in areas such as genetics, brain science and clinical diagnosis.

Each trainee works with an NIH-funded mentor in a research lab and completes significant coursework.

"The research at the MIND Institute is extremely rigorous," said Andrew Dakopolos, a former ARTP scholar who is now a specialist at UCSF. "That has significantly contributed to what I'm able to do and what I'm able to offer the community as an investigator."

The program, which will accept six new trainees this cycle, also includes experience in research ethics, how to design studies and analyze results, as well as career development.

"The scope was amazing, ranging from discussing pharmacology to public health issues, to lived experiences of autistic people, neuroimaging and neuroanatomy," shared Giacomo Vivanti, a former ARTP scholar who is now a professor and endowed chair at Dalhousie University in Canada. "It was a place where you did not just listen to lectures, but also interacted with experts and scholars, so it was a very inspirational environment."

A proven track record

The program has a long history of success.

"I was fortunate to be part of the first cohort of ARTP trainees 21 years ago," said Christine Wu Nordahl, professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and MIND Institute faculty member who is now one of the program's directors.

"Joining ARTP gave me many opportunities that I wouldn't have had as a basic neuroscientist. I got to meet and interact with developmental psychologists, clinicians, pediatricians and many others outside the realm of basic biology."

That collaborative approach was a major reason Nordahl remained at the MIND Institute. She now directs the Autism Phenome Project, a long-term study to identify subtypes of autism. The study has been running for 20 years and is one of the largest of its kind in the world.

She's also now turning her attention to the next generation. "I have seen how instrumental the ARTP was in helping me develop as a well-rounded autism scientist and I want to give new trainees those same opportunities. They are the future, and they inspire me."

It's not unusual for ARTP trainees to stay at UC Davis.

"Many ARTP graduates have gone on to hold faculty positions here," said Stephen Noctor, also a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and a co-director of the program. "We have had 60 trainees since 2004. Close to 90% have continued to pursue science careers. That's quite a track record."

More about the ARTP

The fellowship is run by the three co-investigators on the grant: Nordahl, Noctor and Marjorie Solomon, who is also a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. The National Institute of Mental Health grant (2T32MH073124-21A1) runs for the next five years.

Initial applications are due Sept. 1. Program directors anticipate a rolling admissions process for the next year.

Learn more and apply for the ARTP

From Labs to Lives

The ARTP is supported by funding from the National Institute of Mental Health. Federal investment in research training programs helps transform promising discoveries into real-world breakthroughs that save lives and improve quality of life. Learn more about how public funding of UC Davis research powers innovation, strengthens the economy and advances human health in From Labs to Lives.