NIH T35 Short Term AuD Research Training Program

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Program Overview​

Boys Town National Research Hospital, with funding from a T35 training grant from the National Institute for Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), is soliciting applications from AuD students for a three-month, full-time, clinical or translational research training experience in the hearing sciences. Each AuD student will be involved in a specific research project, working with one of our investigators currently conducting clinical or translational research related to hearing and balance: Investigators and Laboratories Available to AuD Students

Students will be matched with a mentor according to the students’ interests and mentor availability. Other benefits of the T35 traineeship include:

• Weekly journal groups
• Local seminars and workshops
• Colloquia presentations by national and international experts in communication disorders
• A course on responsible conduct in research
• Access to all hospital faculty for informal discussions and consultations
• Technical and computer support
• Travel stipend to present the T35 research project during the Mentored Research Poster Sessions at the American Auditory Society meeting in sunny Scottsdale, Arizona the following spring

This is an excellent opportunity for AuD students to obtain significant exposure to research in an active laboratory conducting research related to clinical and experimental audiology, and may be of particular interest to ​students who are considering pursuing a PhD.

Eligibility:

• Currently enrolled in an AuD program
• Not currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program or in a combined AuD/PhD program
• Able to participate full time (40 hrs/wk) for three consecutive months in the summer
• U.S. citizen or permanent residency status (students on J or F training visas are not eligible for NIH training support)

Stipend:

Each student will receive a stipend of $2,262/month for each of the three months they participate in the program. Costs associated with research (e.g., subject fees) are supported by NIH grants held by hospital faculty or other sources.

Housing:

Trainees are required to secure their own housing for the duration of the program. Summer housing options may be available through local universities such as the University of Nebraska-Omaha (approximately three miles from BTNRH) and Creighton University (approximately one mile from BTNRH). Please contact us for further information about this possible option for 2024.​

What Makes the BTNRH T35 Program Unique?

2024 will be the 18th consecutive year of training AuD students in research at BTNRH. Over 75% of the T35 students who have completed their research training at BTNRH have first-authored or co-authored publications in top-tier journals.

About Omaha

Omaha is a hilly city on the banks of the Missouri River. It is home to attractions such as the NCAA Men’s College World Series, the world-class Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, a vibrant performing arts scene, museums, outdoor concerts, bike trails, parks, diverse restaurants, and the historic Old Market district.

Application and Notification Schedule

Complete applications should be received by January 15, 2024. Applicants will be notified no later than February 15, 2024. Traineeships typically begin sometime in May 2024, based on the student’s and mentor’s schedules, and extend over the course of the summer.​​​​​​

Application ​Process:

Interested AuD students should submit the following:

1. Letter of interest describing career goals and value of completing this ​traineeship
2. Completed application (pdf)
3. Copy of curriculum vitae
4. Letter of reference emailed directly from the Au.D. Program Director/Dept. Chair or academic adviser​ (or a hardcopy may be included with mailed applications in a sealed envelope signed across the seal by the adviser)

Application materials may be sent via email (preferred) or U.S. mail to:

Melanie Faimon​, AuD Training Program
c/o  BTNRH Research, 3rd Floor
Boys Town National Research Hospital
555 North 30th Street
Omaha, NE 68​131

Email: melanie.faimon@boystown.org
Office Phone: (531) 355-5540

What Former Students Are Saying

“The T-35 program was a great opportunity to learn skills beyond those taught through my AuD program. Through a close working relationship with my mentor, I gained invaluable experience in how to set up and conduct an experiment and developed a solid foundation in research methods. In addition, the collaborative atmosphere of Boys Town offered me the opportunity to interact with a large network of investigators and to learn about their work in other areas of auditory research. The knowledge and connections I gained through this program have opened many doors and have been instrumental in shaping my career as a research audiologist.”

--Katelyn G., University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

“Participation in the T35 program at BTNRH was one factor that contributed to my decision to pursue a PhD and a career in academia. The T35 program allowed me to be completely invested in research and made me realize how satisfying it can be solve problems and answer questions that have the potential to improve the clinical care received by individuals with hearing loss. I am thankful for my time as a T35 trainee at BTNRH for the friendships that have resulted, the contributions made to audiology and hearing science, and the opportunity to learn from some of the most well-accomplished, brilliant, and welcoming people in the field.”

--James L., University of Iowa

“Completing a T-35 fellowship in the Cochlear Implant Lab at Boys Town National Research Hospital provided me with the understanding of research methodology I would not have gotten anywhere else. The skills I developed during my T-35 experience continue to serve me every day as a research audiologist for a cochlear implant manufacturer, a position I was significantly more prepared for thanks to the T-35 experience. The T-35 program is a great opportunity for any audiologist who sees research as at least a part of their future career, regardless of job position.”

--Erin C., University of Texas at Dallas

“The T-35 program made for a great summer. Meeting and working full-time with top researchers in the field of audiology, living in a house with many other audiology students who became great friends, and exploring Omaha were some of the highlights. I highly recommend it if you have an interest in research!”

--Jenna B., University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

“Boys Town is very unique in the sense that it offers a huge variety of services for all ages, but the atmosphere is still that of a smaller intimate setting. Collaboration is everywhere.”

--Julia G., University of Cincinnati