Research Training: UCLA Neurosurgery Residency Program
One year of dedicated research time occurs during 4th year of training. Our aim is to provide an environment where the resident can tailor their experience to individual interests and needs, with the end product being a resident fully prepared to excel in an academic career. For residents with modest research experience entering residency, they learn the fundamental basics of scientific research. Other residents with a greater existing experience, including prior PhD's, utilize this opportunity to further enhance their research skills.
The UCLA Neurosurgery Department is one of the top neurosurgery departments in the world in terms of total research funding, with over half of the clinical faculty recipients of NIH grant support as principle investigator. Department laboratories include neuro-oncology, spine, epilepsy, vascular, functional, and neurotrauma. Residents can elective to obtain their research experience outside of our Department laboratories, taking advantage of distinguished research faculty at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, several of which are Nobel laureates.
Many of our residents are recipients of prestigious NIH R25 training awards in addition to other research fellowships.
For residents looking to expand upon or seek an alternative research experience, our residency program offers many alternatives, including but not limited to:
- Training at the UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute. Several tracks are available.
- Masters degree in health policy training at the UCLA School of Public Health
- UCLA STAR Program, where selected residents can obtain a PhD during their residency training
In addition to manuscripts directly related to their research experience, residents are required to publish a minimum of one peer-reviewed manuscript per year beginning in their 3rd year.
