Junior investigators affiliated with CVRI have a number of initiatives specifically targeted to supporting their careers in cardiovascular research, including:

• Dedicated time during the research seminars for trainees and junior investigators to interact with the presenter.
  
  
• Travel awards to support trainees and junior investigators presenting abstracts at regional and national scientific meetings.  These awards are competitive; a limited number of grants are awarded on a rolling basis throughout the academic year.  Each grant provides reimbursement of presentation-related expenses of up to $2,000; more details and the application requirements can be found on the application for funding. Your application must be received by CVRI at least 30 days prior to your presentation.  

• Summer research fellowships for first year medical students. The CVRI sponsors fellowships at $3,000 each for cardiovascular-related research project; mentors of fellowship recipients also receive assistance with research supplies.  These fellowships are awarded through a proposal mechanism at the Office of Medical Student Education.  Please e-mail CVRI for more information.  Historical CVRI Summer Research Projects.
  
  
• Opportunities for junior investigators to present preliminary results, hypotheses, and specific aims to designated senior investigators, orally or in writing; these senior investigators will provide constructive feedback in preparation for the junior investigators' grant submissions or oral presentations.  Please e-mail CVRI for more information.

The Early Career Advisory Committee (ECAC) was formed by CVRI to ensure that the unique needs of junior investigators at UVM and UVM Medical Center are being met. The members of this committee are selected from applications submitted to CVRI's Board of Directors, and they represent multiple departments and levels of expertise. The committee members are:

Maria Cristina Bravo, PhD (Chair) – Faculty Scientist, Biochemistry
Kramer Wahlberg, MD (Vice Chair) – Fellow, Medicine - Cardiology
Deborah Kamin Mukaz, PhD (Secretary) – Postdoctoral Associate, Medicine – Laboratory Clinical Biochemistry Research
Sulamunn Coleman, PhD – Assistant Professor, Psychiatry
Osama Harraz, PhD – Assistant Professor, Research, Pharmacology
Nicholas Klug, PhD – Post-Doctoral Fellow, Pharmacology
Nga Ling (Theresa) Ko, PhD – Assistant Professor, Research, ObGyn and Reproductive Sciences
Rony Lahoud, MD – Assistant Professor, Medicine – Cardiology
Amreen Mughal, PhD – Assistant Professor, Research, Pharmacology
Maria Noterman, PhD – Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Pharmacology
Samuel Short, BA – Medical Student, LCOM Class of 2023
Aneesh Singal, BS – Medical Student, LCOM Class of 2023
Althea Tapales, BS – Medical Student, LCOM Class of 2024