Request for Applications

The Molecular Pharmacology Training Program (MPTP) is pleased to announce a request for applications. The MPTP is a multi-departmental program that complements the training received by students in their Ph.D. degree-granting department or interdepartmental program. The MPTP provides training in the area of molecular pharmacology, with a focus on the process of drug discovery and drug development. Our mission is to provide students with expertise in basic biomedical science and an understanding of the steps required to translate their fundamental discoveries into clinical therapies. Our goal is to train future leaders in academic research, biotechnology, science/health policy, and other science-related careers.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be US Citizens or Permanent Residents.
• Applicants must be in their first year of the Stanford Biosciences or Chemistry Ph.D. Program.

Support

• Trainees will receive stipend and tuition support at the level of NIH predoctoral funding.
• Trainees will receive one-half of their health insurance from the training program, plus the other half paid by a university subsidy.
• Trainees will receive $300 towards travel to a scientific conference to present a poster or paper.
• Funding is provided in the second and third years of graduate study, with third-year support contingent on the successful renewal of our T32 award and sufficient progress in the trainee’s MPTP requirements and dissertation research.

Program Requirements

• Trainees must attend a one-day workshop and lecture pertaining to rigor and reproducibility that is part of BIOS 200: Foundations in Experimental Biology.
• Trainees are required to attend and present a poster at an annual three-day retreat. After completion of their funding term, they are required to give an oral presentation at the retreat.
• Trainees will present an annual 30-minute talk at a student/faculty research forum.
• Participate in quarterly discussions on responsible conduct, rigor, and reproducibility in research during entire training grant period.
• Trainees meet annually with the MPTP Co-Directors, Prof. James Chen and Prof. Matt Bogyo, to discuss MPTP training experiences, career development goals, and any areas of concern.
• Participate in both annual IDP meetings and annual thesis committee meetings.
• Regular meetings with faculty mentor to discuss scientific hypotheses, devise experimental approaches, and help analyze and interpret data.
• Trainees must acknowledge the MPTP T32 training grant in all publications resulting from their graduate work during or following their year(s) of support and must enter these publications into the PMCID database.

Other Program Activities

MPTP trainees will also have access to monthly lunches with MPTP faculty, annual retreats, and various career development and exploration opportunities, including science communication workshops, alumni networking events, biotech industry site visits, and SPARK-funded translational research projects (http://sparkmed.stanford.edu).

Application Process and Deadline

Applicants should submit the following materials:

• • 1. One-page summary of the applicant’s prior research experience
    2. One-page personal statement articulating applicant’s interest in drug discovery and development, how the MPTP will benefit the applicant’s training, and how the applicant can contribute to the program.
    3. Current Stanford transcript (unofficial copies are acceptable)
    4. Letter of recommendation describing the applicant’s qualifications for MPTP.
    5. Each MPTP applicant will be invited to a 30-minute interview with a Faculty Steering Committee member to discuss their research work, interest in drug discovery and development, and other factors that the candidate would like the committee to consider.

The one-page research experience summary and one-page personal statement should be written using Arial 11-point font and 1-inch margins. All application materials should be submitted as a single PDF file directly to the MPTP Program Manager, Trinh Luu (trinhluu@stanford.edu), by 12 pm on Friday, April 17, 2026. Applicants will be contacted shortly after the application deadline to schedule the interviews.

Selection

Trainees will be chosen from the applicant pool by a review committee based on application materials, track record, research interests, and fit with the MPTP mission. Applicants will participate in an interview with the review committee before final decisions are made.