UT Southwestern Advancement of Neuroscience Research Careers (UTSWANS-UE5)
UT SWANS is UT Southwestern’s NIH-funded physician-scientist training program for neurology and neurosurgery residents. We have designed the UT SWANS program to make the path toward an independent research career approachable and well-supported from the very start of residency. Trainees benefit from dedicated, multi-faceted, and longitudinal mentorship, with both career and research guidance beginning on day one. All faculty mentors are recognized nationally and internationally for their academic contributions to their subspecialty and have helped alumni successfully receive independent research grants.
Dedicated
The program is structured to support research activities while providing comprehensive clinical training. Through dedicated time and purposeful courses, we equip our trainees with the tools to succeed as physician-scientists. Courses cover not only research basics, but also the communication and granstmanship skills essential for success in academic medicine.
Multi-faceted
Our mentorship network is intentionally broad, spanning basic, translational, and clinical research across multiple departments and centers. This diversity of perspectives helps residents understand the full spectrum of neuroscience research and the vital connection between laboratory discovery and clinical practice.
Longitudinal
By pairing strong mentorship with robust resources in a stepwise, consistent framework at each stage of training, we empower residents to excel as the next generation of physician-scientists.
Program Structure
- PGY1: Exploring the Physician-Scientist Path
As trainees are immersed in broad clinical training with exposure to Neurology through Parkland during their first year, we integrate an introduction to neuroscience research activities and opportunities. Outpatient subspecialty neurology experiences allow trainees to explore the intersection between clinical neurology and the basic neurosciences. Residents will:
- Explore personal research interests and learn how the research track is structured.
- Meet with potential research mentors and prepare a short list.
- Meet with an assigned career mentor who will help with long-term career goals.
- Neurology residents receive a protected month to meet with potential mentors.
- Participate: Monthly resident research courses that cover ethics, hypothesis testing, basics of statistics, grant writing, and interpretation of literature.
- Attend & Observe:
- OBI Multidisciplinary Research Retreat - brings together trainees from all OBI departments for a day of talks from students and postdocs, and a keynote speaker.
- Neurology Resident Research Day - led by Dept. of Neurology, graduating residents and fellows showcase the culmination of their research, receiving faculty feedback on originality, study design, significance, and independence of work.
- PGY2: Defining Career Goals as a Physician-Scientist
The second year focuses on direct care of patients within their specialty. Those who have chosen to pursue the physician-scientist career path:
- Engage in monthly research methodology conferences and begin developing research hypotheses.
- Formally select a research mentor by February.
- Submit a UE5 supplement proposal to the Departmental Scientific Guidance Committee (SGC) by April.
- Receive structured feedback from the SGC to refine proposals.
- Participate: Monthly resident research courses that cover ethics, hypothesis testing, basics of statistics, grant writing, and interpretation of literature.
- Attend & Observe:
- OBI Multidisciplinary Research Retreat - brings together trainees from all OBI departments for a day of talks from students and postdocs, and a keynote speaker.
- Neurology Resident Research Day - led by Dept. of Neurology, graduating residents and fellows showcase the culmination of their research, receiving faculty feedback on originality, study design, significance, and independence of work.
- PGY3: Formalizing the Research Proposal
Third-year residents will have protected time to pursue their research activities by organizing a framework to maximize the impact of research time in PGY4. Residents will have regular meetings with their research mentors and:
- Submit SGC-approved proposal to the Steering Committee by July
- Submit UE5 research proposal to the NIH by October
- Participate: Monthly resident research courses that cover ethics, hypothesis testing, basics of statistics, grant writing, and interpretation of literature.
- Attend & Observe:
- OBI Multidisciplinary Research Retreat - brings together trainees from all OBI departments for a day of talks from students and postdocs, and a keynote speaker.
- Neurology Resident Research Day - led by Dept. of Neurology, graduating residents and fellows showcase the culmination of their research, receiving faculty feedback on originality, study design, significance, and independence of work.
- PGY4: Integrated Clinical & Research Training
The resident research track allows trainees to have contiguous blocks of protected research time to advance their work.
- Protected research time: 45% (Neurology) | 75% (Neurosurgery)
Residents will continue to have monthly research meetings for specific feedback. While this is the final year for neurology residents, all trainees will:
- Participate in: Monthly resident research courses
- Present at: Annual OBI Research Retreat, NINDS UE5 Workshop, and Resident Research Day.
- Communication Training: Led by the Clinical and Translational Science Awards Program Training (three 3-hour sessions):
- Writing conference abstracts & posters
- Delivering engaging oral presentations
- Designing impactful slide presentations
- PGY5 (Neurology): Transition to Independence – K Award Preparation
During the fellowship, research is supported under the UE5 mechanism (submitted in PGY3). Beyond continued research, this year is primarily dedicated to preparing for independent research funding as an early-career physician-scientist.
- Protected research time: 90%
- Participate in: K award intensive writing workshop and monthly resident research courses.
- PGY5–6 (Neurosurgery): Research Bridge
Given the predominant research-focused fourth year, trainees will re-engage in clinical service during PGY5-6 with:
- Continued mentorship and departmental resources to sustain research progress.
- Participate in: monthly resident research courses.
- Present at: Annual OBI Research Retreat, NINDS UE5 Workshop, and Resident Research Day.
- Attend: monthly resident research courses.
- PGY7 (Neurosurgery): Transition to Independence – K Award Preparation
Research is supported under the UE5 mechanism (submitted in PGY3). Beyond continued research, this year is primarily dedicated to preparing for independent research funding as an early-career physician-scientist.
- Protected research time: 50% or more
- Present at: Annual OBI Research Retreat, NINDS UE5 Workshop, Resident Research Day
- Participate in: K award intensive writing workshop and monthly resident research courses.