UNM’s Clinical & Translational Research Experience (CT-REx) Program is a career preparation program for undergraduate students interested in careers as clinical research professionals (CRPs). CRPs support academic medical research and have job titles such as research coordinators and data management specialists. CT-REx trainees participate in an 8-week summer program, 40 hours per week. The program provides skill-based training, mentorship, and hands-on learning in the key areas of research:
Who should apply?
CT-REx aims to recruit students who are underrepresented in the research workforce. The program is specifically designed for freshmen and sophomores in New Mexico and Arizona who:
CT-REx trainees can expect to:
The UNM Health Sciences Center is a cutting-edge research center with hundreds of ongoing research projects. Clinical research professionals are integral in facilitating the progress of these projects—collaborating with scientists and other medical professionals to advance knowledge in healthcare, including the identification of evidence-based treatments and practices.
During the program, CT-REx trainees work with and learn from lab managers, data management specialists, research coordinators, qualitative researchers, and evaluators.
CT-REx trainees also work alongside program staff to develop their individual career pathway by attending career exploration seminars, writing resumes, beginning job searches, and making individual development plans.
Trainees receive housing on UNM campus and a stipend of $5,000.
What does a CT-REx Trainee Do?
A typical CT-REx training day includes a mix of shadowing and classroom learning. Trainees shadow active research teams researching pressing health issues while also learning key skills of health sciences research.
Past trainees have worked alongside cutting-edge research teams studying:
CT-REx is designed to cultivate interest in careers in health research and concurrently prepare trainees to enter the research workforce. The program does this by exposing trainees to the various types of research careers, developing basic research skills, and preparing them to pursue jobs or further education related to health sciences research.
CT-REx trainees can expect to gain experience and competency in:
CT-REx trainees are expected to:
You do not need to be a doctor or have an advanced degree to enter the career of health research. You can enter the field as a research professional with an associate's degree and minimal job experience.
Examples of job titles include:
Clinical Research Professionals are in high demand – the job postings greatly exceed applicants!
CT-REx is a full-time commitment. The average days vary depending on rotations, hand on learning, research training, research lab tours, career exploration seminars and professional development.
Cite the Grant:
This project is supported by an award from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health under grant number UM1TR005466.
Link the Grant:
To your publication in NCBI My Bibliography (Pandhi & Radovick, PIs)