STS Database Clinical Research Fellowship

About the role

The STS Research and Analytic Center (RAC) is the home for database harvest analytics and clinical research efforts leveraging the family of cardiothoracic surgery registries within the STS National Database. This fellowship offers clinical fellows the opportunity to deeply engage in STS clinical outcomes research activities, working closely with in-house database and analytics staff to gain fundamental knowledge in statistical modeling and research based on the STS Database.

Location of activity will be primarily remote but may include occasional in-person touch points in Chicago. Candidates should anticipate at least two working visits to STS HQ in Chicago during the course of the fellowship.

Eligibility

• Candidates must be in active residency training in an approved ACGME-accredited program, or within the first 2 years of practice.
• Applicants at all levels of statistical experience are encouraged to apply.
• Candidates should be prepared to describe their current statistical expertise and articulate a plan for how this fellowship will augment their analytical skill set.
• A formal educational or training plan to strengthen statistical knowledge during the fellowship period will be viewed favorably.
• Applicants must provide a biosketch, a personal statement attesting to their interest and prior experience with clinical research, and three letters of recommendation from an employer, mentor, department chair, and/or program director attesting to the candidate’s abilities and availability to perform the duties required without restrictions.

Objectives

• Gain an intimate working knowledge of the STS database variables, their meaning, and potential impact on clinical outcomes.
• Develop fundamental knowledge of research study design, statistical methods, risk modeling, and their appropriate application for specific research methodologies (e.g., comparative analyses, regression, propensity matching, inverse probability weighting, time-to-event analyses, data linkages).
• Gain experience with efficient project management from proposal origination, development of a statistical analytic plan, refining the plan, analysis execution, abstract and manuscript preparation, and the publication process from initial submission to response to reviewers and final acceptance.

Funding

The STS Research and Analytic Center will support one research fellow for a one-year period with a grant of $80,000. Funding is provided to the institution to offset the resident’s salary and benefits, as well as two working visits to STS HQ in Chicago during the fellowship.

Required Application Materials

• Personal statement attesting to interest and prior experience with clinical research, and ability to dedicate full-time effort.
• Short answer questions.
• Up to 3 research questions you would pursue during the fellowship.
• Literature references (optional).
• Applicant's biosketch.
• Mentor's biosketch.
• 3 letters of support (from department chair, mentor, employer, and/or program director) attesting to the candidate’s abilities and availability to perform the duties required without restrictions.
• Headshot photograph.
• Optional: Other relevant data, such as figures or additional letters of support.

Other Requirements

• The award recipient must disclose financial grant support of the STS Clinical Database Research Fellowship on each authored paper or publication resulting from this fellowship.
• The supporting institution/department will have some responsibility for the balance of the award recipient’s expenses.

Timeline

• Application Open: July 1, 2026
• Application Deadline: September 15, 2026
• Applicants Notified of Award or Regrets: December 2026 - January 2027