HIV Postdoctoral Training Program
(NIMH: T32MH019139; Behavioral Sciences Training In HIV Infection)
INSPIRE (INterdisciplinary Social and Behavioral Science Prevention and Intervention REsearch in HIV)
Program Directors: Claude Ann Mellins, PhD and Jae Sevelius, PhD
Training Director: Justin Knox, PhD
Introduction
The INSPIRE (INterdisciplinary Social and Behavioral Science Prevention and Intervention REsearch in HIV) T32 postdoctoral training program at Columbia University prepares early-career investigators for independent, high-impact research careers addressing HIV prevention and treatment. Based in the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and affiliated with the HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, INSPIRE is situated within a rich, interdisciplinary research environment that integrates behavioral, clinical, and biomedical sciences.
Despite advances in HIV treatment and prevention, significant disparities persist, particularly among populations facing mental health challenges, structural inequities, and barriers to care. INSPIRE is designed to train postdoctoral fellows to address these complex, intersecting determinants of HIV-related outcomes through rigorous, innovative research. Fellows receive comprehensive training across key domains, including mental health, sexuality, psychosocial processes, epidemiology, biostatistics, qualitative methods, health promotion, and implementation science.
The program offers 2–3 years of support and enrolls a cohort of six fellows at a time. Training is centered on mentored research, complemented by individualized development plans, didactic coursework, and structured opportunities to build academic, leadership, and grant-writing skills. A distinctive feature of INSPIRE is its interdisciplinary mentorship model, which includes multi-level mentor mapping and access to faculty with a range of methodological and content expertise, supporting fellows in developing cohesive, cross-disciplinary research programs.
With over 35 years of training experience, INSPIRE has a strong track record of preparing fellows for successful research careers. Graduates have produced a substantial body of peer-reviewed publications and have secured competitive funding, with the majority pursuing careers focused on HIV and related health outcomes. INSPIRE is committed to fostering a collaborative and intellectually vibrant training environment that equips fellows to lead innovative research addressing the evolving HIV epidemic.
Program Goals
The principal goals of the program are to provide:
- Structured academic training in research methods, bioethics, and new biomedical and social/behavioral approaches, with a focus on mental health, sexuality, and psychosocial determinants of health and HIV
- Training in implementation science to scale up evidence-based interventions in the US and globally
- Opportunities for mentored research, professional development (including grantsmanship, writing, and career transition), access to resources, networking, and teaching opportunities across Columbia University and Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
We accomplish these goals by matching fellows with HIV Center faculty members who serve as research preceptors and who oversee the design and implementation of trainee research projects. In addition, trainees participate in a variety of conferences, workshops, lectures, and consultations held at the HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, the Mailman School of Public Health, and the Columbia University Irving Medical Center. By the end of training, fellows will have developed and implemented a research project under the supervision of their preceptor, conducted data analysis, prepared first-authored manuscripts based on study data, presented study findings at internal and external scientific meetings, and applied for funding to support an independent research career after training.
Program Provisions
Each fellow is provided with a training stipend, limited funds for travel and general research training costs associated with the fellowship. All recipients of NIH research fellowships must sign an agreement with the NIH that they will fulfill a "service payback" commitment in return for their postdoctoral support. Under the provisions of this commitment, postdoctoral fellows in the first 12 months of their training program will incur an obligation which can be satisfied by an additional 12 months of NIH-supported research training or an equal number of months of health-related research or teaching. Individuals completing two years of postdoctoral support have no further service obligations stemming from postdoctoral support. Trainees who complete less than two years of training may be liable for a financial payback obligation for part or all NIH-funded training.
Eligibility
Trainees must have received their doctorate (or medical) degree at the time of appointment, demonstrate a commitment to a career in HIV-related research and have a record of academic excellence. To be appointed to the program, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national of the United States, or must have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence (i.e., in possession of a currently valid Alien Registration Receipt Card I-551 or must be in possession of other legal verification of such status). Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible. We are an equal opportunity employer.
Application Process
Our plan is to start opening positions on July 1, 2026, pending receipt of award from NIH. If you are interested in the program and want to apply, please submit an application to the following link:
https://educationportal.nyspi.org/AboutINSPIRE.aspx