The Training Program in Cell and Molecular Dermatology seeks to prepare physicians and scientists for careers in skin-related sciences. The program fosters the development of postdoctoral fellows who perform basic, translational, and clinical research in investigative dermatology within the University of Michigan Medical School.
Funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), our long-standing T32 training program provides an exciting and supportive learning environment that integrates numerous disciplines in dermatological science. In this program, fellows are typically supported for two years to perform research under the supervision of faculty from both within and outside of Dermatology.
Our research program offers training opportunities in molecular biology, genetics, developmental biology, immunology, biochemistry, systems biology, and bioinformatics. Faculty in our program have expertise in cutting-edge technologies including single-cell multiomics, high-resolution spatial transcriptomics, proteomics, genome-wide association studies, mouse transgenesis, and data analysis using artificial intelligence tools. Our researchers collaborate with the School of Engineering and Life Sciences Institute and have access to 53 core facilities offered by the Medical School, including the Advanced Genomics Core, the Bioinformatics Core, the Transgenic Animal Model Core, and many others.
Our clinical research program offers training opportunities in general dermatology, cutaneous oncology, cosmetic dermatology, and clinical pharmacology. Activities in these areas interface closely with the basic research program to facilitate the study of normal and abnormal human skin, as well as skin exposed to ultraviolet light and surgical intervention. Our clinical research program also features training in drug trial design and execution, therapeutic device testing, and outcomes analysis. Other ongoing activities include studies that integrate epidemiologic and molecular data in longitudinal patient cohorts.
Systems biology approaches to analyze high dimensional biological and biomedical data for studies exploring pathophysiology of skin disease across gender, age, and ethnicity: Drs. Allison Billi, James Elder, Johann Gudjonsson, J. Michelle Kahlenberg, Alex Tsoi
Genetics and biology of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, identification of psoriasis susceptibility genes, transcriptomics, and immunobiology: Drs. Allison Billi, James Elder, Johann Gudjonsson, Simon Hogan, J. Michelle Kahlenberg, Teresa O’Meara, Carole Parent, Alex Tsoi, John Varga
Mechanisms of non-melanoma skin cancer initiation and progression, with an emphasis on basal cell carcinoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma: Drs. Arul Chinnaiyan, Andrzej Dlugosz, James Elder, Gary Fisher, Sunny Wong
Molecular mechanisms of photoaging, with emphasis on signaling pathways controlling collagen biosynthesis and degradation, fibrosis, extracellular matrix, and oxidative stress: Drs. Gary Fisher, John Varga
Molecular characterization of hair follicle development and cycling, epidermal stem cells, wound healing, and keratin biology: Drs. Hisham Bazzi, Pierre Coulombe, Andrzej Dlugosz, Sunny Wong
Responsible Conduct of Research
As the social impact of biomedical research steadily increases, it is more important than ever to ensure that all trainees exercise a strong ethical compass in the conduct of research. The Department of Dermatology offers instruction in Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR), which includes topics such as: Introduction to Responsibility in Research; Responsible Authorship, Mentoring, and Collaboration; Responsible Data Management Practices; Professional Conduct and Misconduct; Conflict of Interest; and Protections for Human and Animal Subjects of Research. In addition, we organize a monthly department-wide Dermatology Research Conference where an ethics case study (from the collection “Research Cases for Use by the NIH Community”) is presented and discussed.
Applicants for fellow positions should possess an M.D./Ph.D., M.D., or Ph.D. degree and should have an interest in developing a long-term career in skin-related research. Restrictions imposed by the NIH limit these positions to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. However, additional positions, funded by other mechanisms, may be available for qualified individuals who do not fall into either of these categories.
How to Apply
We are strongly committed to increasing the participation of individuals from racial and ethnic groups that are underrepresented in biomedical research, and individuals with disabilities. To apply for a position in our research training program, please send a copy of your CV and the area of research training that interests you to:
Drs. James T. Elder, M.D., Ph.D. and Sunny Wong, Ph.D.
Co-Directors of T32 Training Program, University of Michigan Department of Dermatology
[email protected]
Please contact us for specific questions about our postdoctoral research training program.
- Allison Billi, MD, PhD*
- Arul M. Chinnaiyan, MD, PhD
- Pierre Coulombe, PhD
- Andrzej A. Dlugosz, MD*
- Bo Duan, PhD
- James T. Elder, MD, PhD*
- Gary J. Fisher, PhD*
- Johann E. Gudjonsson, MD, PhD*
- Simon Hogan, PhD
- J. Michelle Kahlenberg, MD, PhD
- Carole Parent, PhD
- Lam C (Alex) Tsoi, PhD*
- John Varga, MD
- Sunny Y. Wong, PhD*
(* indicates appointment in the Department of Dermatology)
- Hisham Bazzi, PhD
- Christopher K. Bichakjian, MD*
- Kelly Harms, MD, PhD*
- Paul Harms, MD, PhD
- Yolanda R. Helfrich, MD*
- Mio Nakamura, MD*
- Jeffrey S. Orringer, MD*
- Matthew T. Patrick, MEng PhD*
- Olesya Plazyo, PhD
- Taihao Quan, MD, PhD*
- Mrinal Sarkar, PhD*
- Monique Verhaegen, MS, PhD*
- John J Voorhees, MD*
- Frank Wang, MD*
(* indicates appointment in the Department of Dermatology)
- Erez Cohen, PhD
2023-2024 T32 Fellow
Primary Mentor(s): Pierre Coulombe, PhD
Project Title: Keratin-Dependent Regulation of Interferon Signaling in Stressed Keratinocytes
Position After Training: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School - Hankyu Lee, PhD
2023-2024 T32 Fellow
Primary Mentor(s): Bo Duan, PhD and James T. Elder, MD, PhD
Project Title: A Specialized Population of Hair Afferents Dedicated to Transmitting Mechanical Itch (under revision at Neuron); A Dedicated Skin-to-Brain Circuit for Cool Sensation (under review at Nature Communications)
Position After Training: Research Lab Specialist Senior, Department of Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology, University of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and The Arts - Elisabeth Pedersen, MD, PhD
2021-2024 T32 Fellow
Primary Mentor(s): Andrzej Dlugosz, MD
Project Title: Understanding Melanogenesis in Basal Cell Carcinoma
Position After Training: Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School
- Yutein Chung, PhD
2021-2022 T32 Fellow
Primary Mentor(s): Johann Gudjonsson, MD, PhD and Allison Billi, MD, PhD
Project Title: Differences in Chromatin Accessibility in Male vs Female Keratinocytes Using ATAC-seq
Position After Training: Research Lab Specialist Intermediate, Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School - Michael McFadden, PhD
2021-2022 T32 Fellow
Primary Mentor(s): Mary O'Riordan, PhD and Teresa O'Meara, PhD
Project Title: Non-Canonical Functions of IRE1 in Antifungal Innate Immunity
Position After Training: Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School - Olesya Plazyo, MS, PhD
Appointment: 2019-2021 T32 Fellow
Primary Mentor(s): Johann Gudjonsson, MD, PhD
Project title: Investigating the Role of VGLL3 in Female-Biased Autoimmunity
Position After Training: Research Investigator, Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School
Excellence in teaching and research is made possible by the perspectives and contributions of individuals from diverse backgrounds and life experiences. This has been a guiding principle of our Department of Dermatology since the establishment of our first diversity program in 1985. Our T32 training program partners with the Department to fulfill our mission of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in dermatology. Under the leadership of our DEI Committee, we strive to meet these aims through efforts to advance DEI Dermatology Education, Community Outreach, and Student Outreach.
The earnest pursuit of this mission across our dermatology community has resulted in implementation of evidence-based changes to our approach for recruiting applicants for trainee positions. These include focus on “distance traveled” and adoption of a structured interview system to reduce bias in recruitment. Our faculty recruitment and promotions committee has implemented a similar transformation of our recruiting process to combat bias in faculty hiring as well.
Dr. Isadore Bernstein, PhD, oversaw the first NIH training grant in the Department of Dermatology at the U-M Medical School in the 1970s. During this time, Dermatology was primarily a clinical department whose research activities were largely descriptive and served to codify and treat skin diseases, with little attention given to laboratory-based investigation. The current training program was established in 1977 by Dr. John Voorhees, MD, the former Chair of Dermatology, with the objective of integrating basic and clinical research. This new emphasis has resulted in extensive interaction and cooperation between clinical and basic science faculty. In 2001, Dr. James T. Elder, MD, PhD, assumed leadership of the training program, which has benefited from over 4 decades of NIH support. During this time, the training program has directly supported 65 fellows, many of whom have remained in academia, and the program’s membership has grown to include over 25 faculty across campus.
