Vanderbilt Infection Pathogenesis and Epidemiology Research (VIPER)

The Vanderbilt Infection Pathogenesis and Epidemiology Research (VIPER) Training Program prepares and trains postdoctoral fellows for careers in infectious diseases basic science, translational research and epidemiology in infectious diseases.

Supported by an NIH T32 training grant for more than 25 years, the program has had an outstanding track record of successfully launching postdoctoral MD and PhD fellows into highly productive careers in academics and advancing new paradigms in infection treatment and prevention. VIPER was initiated as the Molecular Basis of Infectious Diseases (MBID) Training Program in 1995, and was renewed in 2000 and 2005. In 2009, the program was renamed VIPER to include training in clinical epidemiology and infectious diseases pathogenesis.

The broad training opportunities available through VIPER help translational scientists better appreciate both the clinical need revealed by epidemiological research and the potential bench-based solutions to advance human health. Throughout the tenure of our program, Vanderbilt’s collaborative culture has enabled us to include PhD scientists as mentees and mentors, which has increased the rigor of research training for all fellows.

VIPER supports four training positions per year, and provides partial tuition support for trainees pursuing Vanderbilt’s Master of Public Health or Master of Science in Clinical Investigation degree programs. 

We are now accepting applications for the Vanderbilt Infection Pathogenesis Epidemiology Research (VIPER) T32 Training Program. The main objective of the VIPER Training Program is to prepare and train postdoctoral fellows for careers in infectious diseases basic science, translational, and epidemiologic research. The broad training opportunities available through VIPER help translational scientists better appreciate both the clinical need revealed by epidemiologic research and the potential bench-based solutions to advance human health.

VIPER T32 Eligibility Criteria:

  • MD, PhD, or combined MD-PhDs (although MDs and combined MD-PhDs are prioritized)
  • Must be able to commit to two years of research training (although a second year is not automatically guaranteed).
  • US citizen, non-citizen national, or have been admitted for permanent residence.

Required application materials:

  1. Mentor letter of nomination (two pages maximum), summarizing why the trainee’s work would be appropriate for the VIPER training grant.
  2. Specific Aims page (one page), similar to that typically included in an NIH grant application.
  3. Trainee’s and Mentor’s current NIH biosketches.
  4. Trainee’s brief statement of interest that includes short- and long-term career goals (one page).

Please send all required application materials to VIPER Program Manager, Mary Smith, via email to mary.smith@vumc.org by Thursday, February 15th, 2024. The start date for funding is July 1, 2024.

Program Leadership

Spyros A. Kalams, MD

Professor of Medicine
VIPER Program Director

Timothy R. Sterling, MD

Professor of Medicine
VIPER Program Co-Director

April Pettit, MD, MPH

Associate Professor of Medicine
VIPER Co-Associate Director

Peter Rebeiro, PhD, MHS

Assistant Professor of Medicine
VIPER Co-Associate Director