Junior investigators affiliated with CVRI have a number of initiatives specifically targeted to supporting their careers in cardiovascular research, including:

• Dedicated time during the research seminars for trainees and junior investigators to interact with the presenter.
  
  
• Travel awards to support trainees and junior investigators presenting abstracts at regional and national scientific meetings.  These awards are competitive; a limited number of grants are awarded on a rolling basis throughout the academic year.  Each grant provides reimbursement of presentation-related expenses of up to $2,000; more details and the application requirements can be found on the application for funding. Your application must be received by CVRI at least 30 days prior to your presentation.  

• Summer research fellowships for first year medical students. The CVRI sponsors fellowships at $3,000 each for cardiovascular-related research project; mentors of fellowship recipients also receive assistance with research supplies.  These fellowships are awarded through a proposal mechanism at the Office of Medical Student Education.  Please e-mail CVRI for more information.  Historical CVRI Summer Research Projects.
  
  
• Opportunities for junior investigators to present preliminary results, hypotheses, and specific aims to designated senior investigators, orally or in writing; these senior investigators will provide constructive feedback in preparation for the junior investigators' grant submissions or oral presentations.  Please e-mail CVRI for more information.

The goal of this program is to provide additional avenues of career support to our early career investigators, primarily CVRI’s early career advisory committee and junior investigators who have participated in CVRI’s programs. 

We will aim to pair mentees with mentors based on specific mentorship needs on an as requested basis.  You are welcome to request a specific mentor, however their availability is not guaranteed. 

Specific mentorship needs may include requests for either short-term or on-going mentorship in the following areas of support: 

• Grant or manuscript writing
• Clinical trials
• Career development
• Work/Life balance
• Establishing collaborations
• How to become a successful independent investigator
• Women in Medicine
• Research in Industry
• Other

CVRI Mentorship Request Form

The Early Career Advisory Committee (ECAC) was formed by CVRI to ensure that the unique needs of junior investigators at UVM and UVM Medical Center are being met. The members of this committee are selected from applications submitted to CVRI's Board of Directors, and they represent multiple departments and levels of expertise. The current committee members are:

Board Advisor: Mary Cushman, MD, MSc, FAHA

Maria Noterman-Soulinthavong, PhD (Chair)– Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Pharmacology
Sulamunn Coleman, PhD (Vice Chair)–  Research Assistant Professor, Psychiatry
Debora Kamin Mukaz, PhD (Secretary)– Postdoctoral Associate, Medicine
Maria Cristina Bravo, PhD (Past-Chair)– Faculty Scientist, Biochemistry
Tanesha Beebe-Peat, MD – Resident, Internal Medicine
Matthew Caporizzo, PhD – Assistant Professor, Molecular Physiology & Biophysics
David Coggin-Carr, MD, PhD – Assistant Professor, OBGYN & Reproductive Sciences
Jamie Cyr, PhD – Medical Student, LCOM Class of 2025
Ryan Hunt, BS – PhD Candidate, Neuroscience Graduate Program
Nicholas Klug, PhD  – Research Assistant Professor, Pharmacology
Brittney Palermo, BA – Medical Student, LCOM Class of 2025
Ajit Singh, PhD – Postdoctoral Associate, Pharmacology
Althea Tapales, BS – Medical Student, LCOM Class of 2024