TRIAD T32 Application

Eligibility

Predoc

Predoctoral applicants who have successfully completed their qualifying exam. Typically, applicants are enrolled in the University of Kentucky's Integrated Biomedical Sciences graduate program or the MD/PhD program.

Qualified applicants from other programs may email to inquire.

Postdoc

Postdoctoral applicants should have completed a PhD in a relevant field, which includes most areas within the biomedical and behavioral sciences. Applicants who have successfully defended their dissertation prior to the employment start date, but have not yet had their degree formally conferred, are also eligible.

US Status

While we welcome all qualified individuals, please note that this training program is only open to United States citizens and permanent residents.

Requirements

Documents

Applicants will need to upload a (1) cover letter, (2) research proposal, and (3) resume, CV, or biosketch as PDFs, each no larger than 10 MB. Postdocs should explain in their cover letter how their degree or training relates to Alzheimer’s disease research if it's not readily apparent from their resume.

June 15 Deadline

The application deadline is Monday, June 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Your submission will only be accepted through the application portal during the application period.

Apply Here

Fall Start Date

Although there is some flexibility in the start date, we typically expect rainees to begin the program within 30 to 60 days of receiving notification that they have been selected.

Your research proposal should include these four sections:

Research Plan: up to three pages, excluding references and figures.
Career Goals Summary: one page of how the research project relates to the applicant's career goals and to advancing the field of Alzheimer’s disease, related dementias, and dementia risk factors.
Mentor Biosketch.
Mentor Letter of Support.

We recommend two letters of recommendation in addition to your mentor's letter of support. You may include them in the research proposal document or send them separately by email to our research administrative assistant, Heather Nichols.

Your research proposal should include these four sections:

Research Plan: up to three pages, excluding references and figures.
Career Goals Summary: one page of how the research project relates to the applicant's career goals and to advancing the field of Alzheimer’s disease, related dementias, and dementia risk factors.
Mentor Biosketch.
Mentor Letter of Support.

You will need a mentor to write and submit your research proposal. This process can take some time and should be planned for in advance of the enrollment period. For scholars seeking a mentor, we recommend submitting your (1) cover letter and (2) resume, CV, or biosketch through our Request a Mentor form.

The cover letter should explain your primary areas of interest and list potential mentors. If your information looks promising, we will reach out to you to help match you with a mentor.

Our training program addresses the risk factors that impact Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and spans multiple disciplines. Whether behavioral, biological, social, or medical, no single factor operates in isolation, so understanding — and ultimately preventing— Alzheimer’s disease requires an interdisciplinary approach. If you’re interested in AD research and unsure about how your field relates, we encourage you to email us to inquire. Visit our "Why AD Research" page to learn about the many risk factors.

Selection Process

Applicant Review

The entire selection process takes approximately four to six weeks. Applicants will be notified whether their submission has been selected for in-depth review.

Candidate Review

For those applicants moving to the next step, a panel will review, score, and rank each submission, then notify candidates.

Trainee Employment

Positions are full-time, salaried, with benefits in accordance with NIH payment standards for T32 programs. Support also includes relocation assistance, childcare assistance, conference attendance, and tuition (if needed).