PACeR Application

Current Application Deadline

August 14, 2026 5PM MST

The Program for Advanced Cell Biology Research (PACeR) is an NIH/NIGMS-funded T32 training program that prepares the next generation of leaders in cell biology through interdisciplinary research, collaborative mentorship, and comprehensive professional development. Co-directed by Drs. Adam Hughes and Minna Roh-Johnson, PACeR brings together trainees and faculty from across the University of Utah's health and main campuses to foster scientific innovation and build a vibrant community of cell biology researchers. Trainees benefit from an exceptional research environment that spans fundamental cell biology and translational biomedical science, while gaining access to specialized training, career development opportunities, and a network of accomplished mentors.

Call for PACeR Applications

For the inaugural 2026–2027 application cycle, PACeR will support four predoctoral trainees, with an additional four positions to be awarded in Spring 2027, for a total of eight trainees. Following review, applications will be evaluated by the PACeR leadership and Internal Advisory Board, and the highest-ranked candidates will be invited to participate in a 20–30 minute interview in late August 2026.

Eligibility

We welcome applications from outstanding graduate students—including MD/PhD students—who will be entering their second or third year in Fall 2026 and whose research aligns with the broad field of cell biology. This research should align with the NIGMS mission. We encourage applicants from all relevant graduate programs and seek to build a diverse cohort representing a wide range of research disciplines, laboratories, and academic departments.

In accordance with NIH training grant requirements, applicants must be U.S. citizens, U.S. non-citizen nationals, or permanent residents of the United States.

Preparing your application

1. Your curriculum vitae

2. A summary of your thesis research project. Please include a title and summarize the background, rationale, impact, and how the proposed research relates to cell biology and aligns with the NIGMS mission.
   Font must be 11pt Arial with 1-inch margins. Maximum 2-pages. Figures and figure legends are included in the two-page limit; references may be provided on one additional page. 

3. A Summary of your career goals and your interest in participating in PACeR. You may also provide any additional information that would be useful to the selection committee, including relevant circumstances, challenges, or nontraditional experiences that have influenced your educational or research trajectory. 
   Font must be 11pt Arial with 1-inch margins. Maximum 1-page.

4. Unofficial copy of your graduate school transcripts.

5. The name and contact information (institutional affiliation, academic title, and email address) of one additional faculty member who is not your thesis mentor (at the University of Utah or another institution) who can comment on your research aptitude, creativity, motivation, and perseverance. This individual may be contacted at the later stages of the application process. Do not ask this individual to submit a letter.

6. A letter of support from your thesis mentor uploaded in PDF using the required PACeR Mentor Reference Form (button below).
   
   Instructions for Mentor
   - Students with two thesis mentors should submit one joint letter.
   - Prepare your recommendation using the mentor reference form (link below) and save in pdf format.
   - File naming convention: Name of trainee_PACeR Mentor Reference

Submitting your application

Once you have prepared your materials, submit them via the online application form below. Note that the thesis mentor should upload their reference form directly to the site using the submission link above.

PACeR Policies

The primary criteria for selection will be:

1. quality of the research proposal

2. academic and research excellence (graduate level coursework and answering questions during the interview)

3. relevance to the field of cell biology (broadly defined)

Trainees are supported for a maximum of two years.

All trainees must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. non-citizen national, or a permanent resident of the U.S.

All trainees and their faculty thesis mentors must adhere to the PACeR Mentor/Mentee Contract.

Faculty thesis mentors must have completed CIMER mentor training, or online and asynchronous equivalent (for example, the Research Mentoring Certificate), by September 1, 2026.

Only one trainee per lab will be supported at a time.