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Transdisciplinary Training in Microbiology and Immunology

(TTMI) T32 Training Program

Sarah D’Orazio, Ph.D. and Lyse Norian, Ph.D.

TTMI Co-Directors

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09/21/26

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Although NIH has long recognized the strategic value of team science, providing guidance in establishing and maintaining collaborations is not typically a featured aspect of predoctoral training.

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The primary objective of the Transdisciplinary Training in Microbiology and Immunology (TTMI) T32 program is to give predoctoral trainees the opportunity to establish their own collaborative project under the mentorship and direct guidance of the Program Faculty and Executive Committee members.

https://www.nature.com/collections/dcgahiejgg

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Interdisciplinary

Multidisciplinary

Transdisciplinary

Knowledge from two or more fields is incorporated to produce something new

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Team members acquire skills related to another specialist’s expertise

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Synergistic approach creates new perspective

to a research question

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People with disparate skill sets make individual contributions

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Different approaches are contrasted, not combined

Xu X et al 2026 Nat. Commun

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TTMI Eligibility

(3) Predoctoral positions

  • Post-qualifying PhD candidates at University of Kentucky

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  • Dissertation work related to Microbiology or Immunology

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  • U.S. Citizen or lawfully admitted permanent resident

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  • Trainee’s PI is a member of the TTMI Program Faculty*

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TTMI Program Faculty

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James Brien, Ph.D.

Ritu Chakravarti, Ph.D.

Saurabh Chattopadhyay, Ph.D.

William de Souza, Ph.D.

Sarah D’Orazio, Ph.D.

Rebecca Dutch, Ph.D.

Kenneth Fields, Ph.D.

Konstantin Korotkov, Ph.D.

Natalia Korokova, Ph.D.

Ilhem Messaoudi, Ph.D.

Barbara Nikolajczyk, Ph.D.

Lyse Norian, Ph.D.

Amelia Pinto, Ph.D.

Christopher Radka, Ph.D.

Jennifer Simkin, Ph.D.

Brian Stevenson, Ph.D.

Wally Whiteheart, Ph.D.

Eric Ubil, Ph.D.

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Criteria to be added to

TTMI Program Faculty

  1. Engaged in Microbiology or Immunology Research

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  • Strong track record of external funding

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  • Demonstrated record of excellent mentoring

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  • Completed the “Entering Mentoring” curriculum

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Benefits for TTMI T32 Appointees

  • $29,264 of trainee’s GRA stipend paid by TTMI

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  • Full tuition and fees paid by the grant

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  • Trainee health insurance paid by TTMI

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  • Can apply for up to $3000 in childcare costs

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  • $1000 in travel funds

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  • Discretionary funds (expected to be $6000-$8000) to pay for subaim work (VPR/CURE-KY)

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  • Mentorship from TTMI Executive Council member

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  • One-on-one time with EAB members

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TTMI External Advisory Board

Hector Aguilar-

Carreno, Ph.D

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UCLA

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Paramyxovirus

entry/egress

Kristin

Hogquist, Ph.D

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U. Minnesota

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Thymic T cell

development

Carla Rothlin, Ph.D

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U. Minnesota

Twin Cities

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Immune regulation

Sunny Shin, Ph.D

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Yale University

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Innate immunity to bacteria

Renee Tsolis, Ph.D

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UC Davis

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Host-pathogen interactions

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April 2027

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Expectations of TTMI T32 Appointees

  • Attend monthly “How to be a Scientist” workshops

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  • Give flash talk to TTMI EAB annually (via Zoom)

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  • Apply for a F30 or F31 NIH grant within first year

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  • Give a capstone talk at ID Day or other UK symposium at end of the appointment

Acknowledge the T32 in all publications!!!

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“How to be a Scientist” monthly workshops

      • Open to all MIMG Graduate students
      • Required attendance for TTMI appointees
      • Series of 24 different sessions
      • Led by TTMI EC members or others

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(6) RCR topics: Dual Use Research, Using AI in Research, Science Under Pressure,

Bias in the Research Setting, Socially Responsible Science, etc.

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(6) Rigor/Reproducibility: Data Management, Blinding & Randomization of Samples, Image Handling, P value Hacking, etc.

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(6) Collaboration topics: Difficult conversations, Intellectual Property, Conflict Resolution, Authorship, Team Science, etc

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(6) Career Development topics: Managing Lab Budgets, Industry Jobs, Effective Teaching, Postdoctoral Fellowship

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How to Apply

  1. Research Proposal

2 pages not including references; 0.5 inch margins, size 11 font

Briefly describe goals of dissertation work

Explain experimental approach of new collaborative subaim

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  • Current CV for graduate student applicant

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  • Letter of Support from Faculty Mentor/PI

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  • Letter of Support from Collaborator

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5) Application to join TTMI Program Faculty (required only if PI is not a current member)

Document outlining PI’s research focus, track record of funding & mentoring

completion of Entering Mentoring training

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Email documents to TTMI_T32program@uky.edu by 5:00 PM 12/01/26

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Applications are due December 01, 2026

https://medicine.uky.edu/departments/microbiology/transdisciplinary-training-microbiology-and-immunology

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TTMI Executive Council

Dr. Sarah D’Orazio

College of Medicine

Dr. Feng Li

College of Agriculture

Dr. Dave Feola

College of Pharmacy

Dr. Ilhem Messaoudi

College of Medicine

Dr. Krystle Kuhs

College of Medicine

Dr. Tony Sinai

College of Medicine

Dr. Meg Grady

College of Engineering

Dr. Lyse Norian

College of Medicine

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Appointees will be notified by mid-to-late December

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Appointments are anticipated to begin on January 1, 2027

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Trainees can be re-appointed if sufficient progress is made during 1st year

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Trainees will evaluate the program annually by anonymous survey and in person session with one member of the EC

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TTMI_T32program@uky.edu

https://medicine.uky.edu/departments/microbiology/transdisciplinary-training-microbiology-and-immunology