New UK training program connects microbiology and immunology trainees
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 1, 2026) — Answering complex research questions often requires expertise that extends beyond a single laboratory. A new University of Kentucky training program funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will help graduate students build those connections while advancing their dissertation research.
The recently funded Transdisciplinary Training in Microbiology and Immunology (TTMI) T32 program, led by Sarah D’Orazio, Ph.D., and Lyse Norian, Ph.D., is accepting applications for three predoctoral trainee positions.
The program will give students conducting microbiology or immunology research the opportunity to develop a collaborative component of their dissertation with guidance from program faculty and executive council members. TTMI encourages building bridges across UK colleges, bringing different perspectives and approaches to a shared research question.
“Although NIH has long recognized the strategic value of team science, providing guidance in the establishment and maintenance of collaborations is not typically a featured aspect of predoctoral training,” D’Orazio said.
“The long-term objective of TTMI is to develop a cohort of well-trained scientists who have the technical and professional skills to build and lead collaborative teams, thereby positioning them to perform rigorous transdisciplinary research to help fulfill our biomedical workforce needs of the future,” Norian said.
Prospective applicants can participate in two upcoming events:
- Oct. 8, 2:30–3:30 p.m.: “How to Initiate a Research Collaboration,” a virtual workshop led by Ilhem Messaoudi, Ph.D., UK Acting Vice President for Research and chair of the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics. Linkblue login is required.
- Oct. 29, 1–2 p.m.: A brainstorming session with TTMI executive council members in Willard Medical Education Building, MS403. No registration is necessary.
Applications are due Dec. 1, 2026, with trainee appointments beginning Jan. 1, 2027.
Visit the TTMI program website for eligibility criteria, application requirements and event information. Applications should be emailed to TTMI_T32program@uky.edu.
Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number T32AI192234. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
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