Investigative Dermatology Training Program

The department of dermatology has one of the longest running cutaneous biology training programs nationally, funded by an NIH T32 training grant. Graduates of this program now lead research programs across the country and have prominent leadership roles. Our graduates have made seminal discoveries in cutaneous biology, providing insight into mechanisms of disease.

The Yale Dermatology investigative dermatology training program offers rigorous training, mentorship, and relevant clinical exposure to trainees engaged in basic and translational skin biology research. The primary objective is to motivate and equip physician-scientists and scientists with the skills and resilience necessary to become leaders in investigative dermatology.

Four slots are offered each year: Two post-doctoral fellow positions and two pre-doctoral (MD/PhD or PhD) fellow positions.

The Yale Dermatology T32 program has been a hub for translational research in skin biology for decades and thrives in a rich, interdisciplinary research environment. The program's distinctive pre- and post-doctoral training features are based on strong scientific and clinical foundations and close collaboration with researchers outside of Dermatology, many of whom hold secondary appointments in Dermatology. The program has a tightly synergistic relationship with various Yale departments, including Immunobiology, Genetics, Therapeutic Radiology, Molecular Cellular & Developmental Biology, Biomedical Engineering, and Epidemiology/Public Health. Interdisciplinary collaborations extend throughout the Dermatology Department, the School of Medicine, Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center, Yale Center for Clinical Investigation, Yale New Haven Hospital, and Yale University's diverse research programs, reinforcing the program's training in critical ways. Furthermore, the program is proud to offer major institutional and core resource support to faculty and trainees via a NIH Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA).

Each trainee has a mentorship team consisting of a primary scientific mentor and a secondary mentor with experience in translational medicine. T32 primary mentors create an exceptional training environment, both within and beyond the Department of Dermatology, highlighting the degree of interdisciplinary cutaneous biology research at Yale. Secondary mentors provide a clinical/translational dermatologic perspective, facilitate collaboration, identify opportunities for trainees to develop regional and national recognition, and support career development. For those enrolled in our Deramtology Physician-Scientist Training Program, during their second year of residency, they select a primary post-doctoral mentor from the cohort of world-class researchers at Yale (inside or outside of dermatology) and a secondary mentor from within the department for training that will commence (with the approval of the American Board of Dermatology) during their third year of residency. The trainee's progress is supported by this dual mentorship and an advisory committee. In this way, the program ensures that trainees bring novel and innovative approaches to cutaneous biology research and that their pre- and post-doctoral training is highly conducive to launching careers in the field.

Post-doctoral candidates are primarily typically dual degree MD/PhD future physician-scientists who are interested in pursuing a combination dermatology (two years of mostly clinical) residency and (two years of mostly research) T32 fellowship training, on our ‘2+2 Physician-Scientist Track.’ Thus, the Yale Dermatology Residency Program is the critical clinical partner for investigative training for the majority of our T32 trainees. We also have a post-doctoral pathway for PhD candidates on our ‘Cutaneous Biology Scientist Track’ who wish to develop their academic research careers in cutaneous biology, and two pre-doctoral training slots for Yale MD/PhD or PhD students.

If you are interested in applying to our Dermatology Research Track, please apply through ERAS. All positions of the Dermatology Research track are filled through the National Residency Match Program NRMP. Qualified applicants will be invited to the general interview day and will also have the opportunity to meet potential research mentors within the department and outside the department, as well as interact with current residents and recent graduates of the Dermatology Research Track. Applicants will have the opportunity to share their original research with departmental faculty and trainees as part of their interview process.

Each year, a call for applications is announced for open post-doctoral and pre-doctoral slots. Candidates engaged in cutaneous biology research as post-doctoral or pre-doctoral trainees are eligible to apply with the support of a primary research mentor.