University of Louisville | School of Medicine

Co-Program Director	Co-Program Director	Program Admin
Roland Valdes, Jr., PhD, DABCC, FADLM	Mark W. Linder, PhD, DABCC, FADLM	Alma Nieto
Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine	Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine	Program Coordinator
roland.valdes@louisville.edu	mark.linder@louisville.edu	alma.nieto@louisville.edu
(502) 852-1778	(502) 852-8400	(502) 852-3368

About the Program

The Clinical Chemistry Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (CCFP) prepares exceptional individuals with advanced degrees (Ph.D. or M.D.) for careers in Laboratory Medicine with emphasis in clinical chemistry, toxicology, and translational clinical sciences. The program requires a minimum of two years for completion, however, further third year training is encouraged. Participants are taught not only as specialists in clinical chemistry and toxicology but also as basic and clinical laboratory scientists. The major goals of this training are to prepare candidates for board certification by the American Board of Clinical Chemistry (ABCC), achieve directorships of CLIA-accredited clinical laboratories, and advance translational clinical laboratory science. Combined training in the clinical chemistry laboratory with emphasis in obtaining basic and applied research experience provides a foundation to allow adaptation to future healthcare needs. This approach prepares the candidates for a career in healthcare disciplines including academic medicine, clinical practice or industry. The Clinical Chemistry Fellows Program specializes in advancing clinical applications of clinical chemistry and toxicology; translational research in laboratory medicine; advanced genomic and proteomic technologies: and artificial intelligence in laboratory diagnostics.

Program Requirements

To be considered for the program, prospective fellows must have:

1. Recently obtained (less than three years) doctoral degree from an accredited college in an appropriate field of biological sciences such as Biochemistry, Medicine, Molecular Biology, or Pharmacology. Previous coursework in chemistry and biology must be sufficient to qualify for the American Board of Clinical Chemistry board exam.
2. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
3. U.S. Citizenship or permanent residency status.

To Apply

Applications are due Sept/October (first review); November/December (second review); Decisions are made February/March.

The application packet must include:

1. Completed Application Form
2. Letter of interest
3. Curriculum vitae
4. Transcripts (undergraduate and graduate)
5. Three letters of recommendation
6. Status of US Citizenship or Working Visa Required

The package is reviewed by a faculty selection committee. Qualified candidates will be invited for a formal visit and asked to provide a seminar. Please send application package documents via email to Alma Nieto. Address the application package to: Roland Valdes, Jr., Ph.D. Director, Clinical Chemistry Fellowship Program.

Training Level

Postdoctoral Training Level
Number of positions available per year: 2 per year
Duration of program: 2 years
Approximate annual salary or stipend: An annual stipend is provided. The dollar amount is based upon the candidate’s applicable experience and the postgraduate medical residency scale ranging from PGY-1 to PGY-4.
Source of funding: Department Sources
Current number of trainees: 2
Number of past graduates: 35

Faculty

Joshua Hayden, Ph.D., DABCC, FADLM	General Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology, Clinical Mass Spectrometry
Saeed A. Jortani, Ph.D., DABCC, FADLM	General Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology, Epigenetics and Biomarkers of Environmentally Induced Cancers, Drug Pharmacogenetics
Mark Linder, Ph.D., DABCC, FADLM	Molecular Diagnostics and Pharmacogenomics
Tiffany Roberts, Ph.D., DABCC, DABHI	Transplant Immunology and Molecular Diagnostics, Novel in Vitro Diagnostics in the Areas of Transplant, Acute Care, and Autoimmunity.
Roland Valdes, Jr., Ph.D., DABCC, FADLM, FACSc	General Clinical Chemistry and Discovery, Deployment, and Distribution of Advanced Translational Diagnostics