S2CER2 Fellowship Program

Funded by an NIH-NINR T32 Institutional Training Grant, the Systems Science and Comparative and Cost-Effectiveness Research Training for Nurse Scientists (S²CER²) program aims to address the systemic and structural inequities in minority populations, develop interventions that address social determinants of health, and design systems and models of care. Each fellow is matched with two faculty mentors—one within nursing and one from another field—to advise them in pursuing original health policy research and helping to prepare them for influential careers as nurse scientists and advocates.

The program builds on the complementary strengths of Columbia University School of Nursing’s faculty who have expertise in mentoring pre and postdoctoral students in S²CER² methods and the robust infrastructure of the Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

What is S²CER²?

S²CER² is a NINR(link is external and opens in a new window)-funded (T32NR014205) pre and postdoctoral fellowship program aimed to prepare nurse scientists in these important methods. Fellows are provided with the foundation required to recognize and address the real world information needs of patients, providers and policy makers by examining the comparative and/or cost effectiveness of competing interventions for high-risk and underserved populations across the continuum of care.

What does a S²CER² fellowship offer?

• Mentoring and research support: Fellows are matched with two faculty mentors, one within nursing and one from another field, to advise them as they pursue one or more original research projects using S²CER² methods to assess competing interventions for high-risk and underserved populations across the continuum of care. For predoctoral fellows, this research project is the student’s dissertation.
• Networking: Monthly seminars provide opportunities to meet with researchers and students from different disciplines, research, and practice environments.
• Tuition, fees, and health insurance: Up to three years of tuition and fees are provided. All trainees receive individual or family health insurance.
• Funds for travel and research-related supplies: Fellows receive funds to travel to one scientific meeting, annually, and additional funds are available to support research activities, as needed.
• Stipends: Fellows receive stipends consistent with NIH guidelines(link is external and opens in a new window)

Who should apply for S²CER²?

• Postdoctoral fellows must be a recent PhD graduate (within three years of defense of dissertation) from any accredited university who is also a registered nurse.
• All applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Prior Trainees

• Amelia Schlak, PhD, RN
• Leah Estrada, BSN, MA, RN, CPN
• Komal Murali, PhD, RN, ACNP-BC
• Mint Kueakomoldej, BSN, RN
• Billy Caceres, PhD, RN, AGPCNP-BC
• Catherine Crawford Cohen, PhD, RN(link is external and opens in a new window)
• Caroline Handschuh, PhD, CNM, MSN
• Elizabeth Heitkemper, PhD, RN(link is external and opens in a new window)
• Kasey Jackman, PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC
• Allison Norful, PhD, RN, ANP-BC
• Sarah Iribarren, PhD, RN(link is external and opens in a new window)
• Krista Schroeder, PhD, BSN(link is external and opens in a new window)
• Aluem Tark, PhD, FNP-BC, RN, CHPN
• Eunjoo An, PhD, RN
• Eleanor Turi, MPhil, BSN, RN, CCRN
• Jung A. Kang MSN, RN, AGACNP-BC, AGCNS-BC
• Suzanne Courtwright, PhD, PNP, NEA-BC

Learn more about S²CER² and begin the application process

Contact Patricia Stone, PhD at ps2024@columbia.edu(link sends e-mail) or Lusine Poghosyan, PhD, MPH, RN at lp2475@cumc.columbia.edu(link sends e-mail)