Position Description

A primary objective of CIRA is to train the next generation of HIV/AIDS scientists. To accomplish this goal, CIRA established the NIMH Interdisciplinary HIV Prevention Training Program in 1999. Yale AIDS Prevention Training Program (Y-APT) fully integrates both Pre- and Post-Doctoral Fellows into all aspects of the program, with a unique training focus on professional development, setting clear expectations for scholarly research productivity, the establishment of a program of research, and the creation of professional identity in preparation for an academic career. This innovative 2-year post-doctoral training program focuses on HIV equity, implementation science, community-engaged research, and digital health. 

About the fellowship

The Yale AIDS Prevention Training Program provides:

• A strong foundation of HIV content knowledge, research skills, and professional networking opportunities for young HIV researchers to foster growth and research impact
• Access to and integration of mentorship, resources, and infrastructure through CIRA and Yale University
• A tiered mentoring structure
• An interdisciplinary approach
• A focus on vulnerable and underserved populations
• Opportunities to conduct ethically-sound, community- based research, domestically and internationally
• Opportunities to work on both descriptive and intervention studies, studying individuals, families, social networks, communities, and society at large
• Research preceptorship and collaboration in ongoing research
• Grant writing
• Professional development seminars in preparation for the job marketing
• Training in research methods and ethics
• CIRA and HIV-related seminars and colloquia
• Support from an established HIV prevention center

The Y-APT curriculum broadly covers:

• Professional Development (e.g. practicing job talks, building teams, creating individual development plans, grant strategies)
• Research in Progress (each Fellow presents their manuscripts/grants twice a year and participates in peer reviewing others work)
• Grant Writing
• Social media use
• Scientific writing retreat (in collaboration with the Research Education Institute for Diverse Scholars program)
• Research skills (e.g. Implementation Science, Community-based participatory research, and technology research)
• Overview of theoretical models, study designs, and analytic approaches in HIV prevention research
• Diversity and inclusion

Y-APT Fellows engage in interdisciplinary collaboration and research to improve social justice and health equity in HIV outcomes and research, specifically through biomedical and behavioral approaches to improve: (1) the HIV prevention continuum; (2) HIV-related comorbidities such as substance use, mental health; and (3) violence and health equity of vulnerable and marginalized populations such as sexual and gender minorities, women of color, and incarcerated populations. Fellows are trained within CIRA, working closely with a research preceptor from among CIRA's 31 Primary Training Faculty members.

*More information about Y-APT can be found here

Fellows’ Responsibilities

Fellows are expected to write articles for publications, present findings of their own research at scientific conferences, prepare a grant application in an HIV-related area, develop and monitor their individual training plan, and be involved in the active research of their Mentors.

Qualifications

Y-APT is open to post-doctoral scholars with PhD, MD, and/or JD degrees who are US Citizens, Non-Citizen Nationals of the United States or Permanent Residents. 

Application Requirements:

1. Applicant Statement (maximum 2 pages) describing: Your previous work relevant to your program of research, your program of research and goals for the next 5 years, and your rationale for selecting the first and second choice mentor that you consider to be the best match to your work.
2. Curriculum Vitae, including grants and publications
3. Names and contact information for three academic references

The application deadline for the 2025-2026 cycle is December 1, 2025.