Training

Postdoctoral Fellows

Postdoctoral researchers are central to our mission of conducting world-class research.

Children Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern (CRI) is home to more than 150 researchers and staff from many different countries, backgrounds, and cultures. In CRI, postdoctoral fellows train in a highly collaborative environment with labs that work at the interface of stem cells, cancer, and metabolism. Each postdoctoral fellow has the opportunity to acquire the diverse skills needed for an independent career in academia, biotech, or beyond.

Become a Postdoctoral Fellow

Potential candidates are encouraged to reach out directly to the faculty member whose lab they are interested in joining. Explore our labs and the ongoing research in CRI.

Training and Career Development

All CRI postdocs are enrolled in the Postdoctoral Training Program at UT Southwestern, which covers ethics, career advancement, supervised research, and individual development plans. Trainees also can elect to receive certifications in advanced research, scientific management, bioinformatics, cancer, and educational techniques. Additionally, UT Southwestern offers its own career-development seminars and symposiums. More information on these programs and training opportunities can be found at UT Southwestern’s Postdoctoral Affairs Office and Postdoctoral Association.

Beyond traditional one-on-one mentoring by principal investigators, CRI has formalized mentoring across laboratories by creating a monthly skills-development seminar series. Topics include:

  • Applying for a faculty job (applications, research, seminar, chalk talk, and Q&A)
  • Starting your own lab
  • Reviewing manuscripts
  • Writing manuscripts
  • Presenting at scientific meetings
  • Preparing and writing grants
  • Choosing a scientific research problem
  • Biostatistics/hypothesis testing

Our postdocs are also invited to attend all faculty candidate talks and chalk talks to learn how to successfully interview for jobs and to prepare for their own job searches.

Our Community

Creating a welcoming and supportive atmosphere where everyone can succeed is vital to CRI’s core mission to push the boundaries of knowledge and make breakthroughs that will save lives. We are dedicated to training the next generation of scientists for independent careers. Nearly half the postdocs in CRI obtain outside fellowships to support their research. Our alumni are unusually successful: nearly all stay in science, often in tenure-track faculty positions at prestigious universities. Others assume leadership positions in biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.

Benefits

Postdoctoral researchers in CRI are paid according to the Howard Hughes Medical Institute scale, which is higher than the National Institutes of Health pay scale.

Current pay scale:

  • 0-1 year of experience $70,000
  • 1-2 years of experience $72,100
  • 2-3 years of experience $74,263
  • 3-4 years of experience $76,491
  • 4-5 years of experience $78,786
  • 5-6 years of experience $81,149

Postdoctoral researchers paid by UT Southwestern are provided medical insurance from the University of Texas System. Plans with additional medical coverage for family members, dental insurance plans, and vision insurance plans are available. Learn more here.

Postdoctoral researchers paid for full-time work by UT Southwestern have two retirement options—either through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas or through the Optional Retirement Program—as well as a number of voluntary programs. Learn more about these programs.

Additional benefits include two on-campus child care options for children ages six weeks through kindergarten at the UTD Callier Child Development Center and the First Step Learning Centre. Postdocs also receive free membership at the Bryan Williams, M.D. Student Center and discounted public transit passes and parking rates.

Shared Facilities and Resources

Every researcher has access to state-of-the-art facilities in CRI. Each facility is directed by a CRI faculty member and staffed by experts in the field who are ready to help with experimental design, sample preparation, and data analysis.

Life in CRI

See what life in CRI is like for our remarkable postdocs and learn more about their research.

Life in Dallas

Dallas is a contemporary and rapidly growing city that offers a compelling blend of cultural, recreational, and entertainment activities, as well as affordable living and a high quality of life.

Inside CRI Newsletter

Stay up-to-date with our latest discoveries and news by subscribing to our quarterly email newsletter.

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