University of New Mexico
Biomedical Informatics Fellowship Program
2013–2016
The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center (UNM HSLIC) invites
applications for a three-year training (research) fellowship in biomedical informatics (BMI). The
fellowship begins July 2013 and comes with a stipend, health benefits and support for research project
expenses. This fellowship also provides time and support for the fellow to complete a master’s degree in
clinical research, as well as the completion of a certificate program in BMI. Roughly half of the fellow’s
time will be allocated to performance of a mentored research project in BMI, culminating in submission
of a manuscript to a peer-reviewed journal. The fellowship position also comes with a Visiting Lecturer II
faculty appointment in UNM HSLIC, through the UNM School of Medicine. This academic appointment
enables the fellow to gain experience as a faculty member in a vibrant department in the UNM Health
Sciences Center.
Summary
The fellow reports to the HSLIC Director of Biomedical Informatics Research, Training and Scholarship,
who acts as the fellow’s primary mentor. Soon after starting the fellowship and establishing a research
project direction, other UNM faculty will be identified to compose a mentor panel (usually a total of two
to three mentors). The mentor panel provides guidance and expertise in domains outside of BMI but
relevant to the fellow’s area of research interest. In addition, the mentor panel provides the opportunity
for the fellow to obtain perspectives from several domains of expertise. The fellow meets with the
primary mentor weekly and with other mentors as needed. The mentor panel convenes every six months
to monitor the fellow’s overall progress. Salary is based on the NIH NRSA stipend levels, which are
based on years of experience (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-12-033.html) and
includes UNM faculty benefits (e.g., health insurance).
The Fellow’s Responsibilities
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Successful attainment of all the competencies in the UNM BMI Training Program’s
competencies-based curriculum. For detailed information on the curriculum, visit
http://hsc.unm.edu/library/biomedical-informatics/curriculum.html.
Successful attainment of all the competencies in the UNM Clinical and Translational Sciences
Center’s MS in Clinical Research Program. (There is considerable overlap between the BMI and
MSCR curricula). For detailed information on the MSCR curriculum, visit
http://hsc.unm.edu/research/brep/mscrcurriculum.shtm.
Successful completion of an online eight-course certificate program in BMI
Successful completion of a mentored research project in BMI with a manuscript submitted to a
peer-reviewed journal
Participation as an active HSLIC faculty member, including participation on appropriate
informatics-related faculty projects and committees
Clinical service, teaching, a UNM BMI Program administrative project or some combination
thereof based on the fellow’s prior background and research interests (Approximately 20 percent
of the fellow’s time will be devoted to these activities.)
Assistance in coordinating the UNM Biomedical Informatics Seminar Series (BioMISS). For
more information about the seminars, visit
http://hsc.unm.edu/library/biomedical-informatics/biomedical-program/MISS.html.
Presentations about biomedical informatics topics at two BioMISS seminars per year
Submission of a grant application by the end of first year of the fellowship
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Required/Minimum Qualifications
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Terminal degree in a biomedically relevant field (e.g., MD, PhD, PharmD, DPT). Those with
PhDs in areas not traditionally considered to be “biomedically relevant” will be considered if the
fellow has a research interest in the biosciences (e.g., electrical engineering, computer science).
Must have degree by the start of the fellowship.
A three-year, full-time commitment.
Preferred Qualifications (i.e., helpful but not absolutely necessary)
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Experience or formal training in the use of some information and communications technologies in
a biomedical domain
Teaching experience
Demonstrated excellence in written and oral communication
Institutional Information
Located in Albuquerque, the largest city in New Mexico, UNM’s HSLIC serves the School of Medicine,
undergraduate and graduate programs in the Colleges of Nursing and Pharmacy, seven allied health
programs, a graduate school of biomedical sciences, a Master’s in Public Health Program, a Master’s in
Clinical Research Program and a university teaching hospital. HSLIC also houses a 30+ FTE IT group
that is responsible for maintaining the Health Sciences Center website, email, network, file servers and
user support, as well as being the center for web-based health sciences education for the University. The
university has a state-of-the-art medical simulation center, a high-performance computing center, a Center
for Telehealth, and a University Hospital system that is a tertiary referral center, with a Level 1 trauma
center, for the entire state of New Mexico. The UNM University Hospitals System uses an electronic
health records system with computerized physician order entry. Multiple clinical and epidemiological
databases are available for research, along with many opportunities for biomedical informatics research in
a wide spectrum of clinical and research venues.
Application Information
To be considered complete, application materials must include the following:
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A letter of interest addressing the required and preferred qualifications
A complete CV
A one-page personal statement that describes the applicant’s interest in biomedical informatics
Complete contact information for three professional references
To Apply
For complete details and more information about the biomedical informatics program at UNM, visit
http://hsc.unm.edu/library/biomedical-informatics/index.html. To ask questions and to submit application
materials, contact the search coordinator, Cathy Brandenburg, at cbrandenburg@salud.unm.edu or 505272-0634.
We must receive materials no later than March 31, 2013, for best consideration for a start date in July
2013. (The start date is negotiable). J1/visa holders are not eligible for this opportunity. Applicants must
be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. This position will remain open until filled.
The University of New Mexico is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and Educator.
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UNM’s confidentiality policy (“Disclosure of Information about Candidates for Employment,” UNM
Board of Regents’ Policy Manual 6.7), which includes information about public disclosure of documents
submitted by applicants, is located at http://www.unm.edu/~brpm/r67.htm.
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