INVEST Fellowships for Postdoctoral Training

INVEST Drug Use and Addiction Research Fellowship

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) International Program INVEST Drug Use and Addiction Research Fellowship combines postdoctoral research training in the United States with professional development activities and grant-writing guidance to form a unique program for drug use and addiction scientists. Fellows may conduct their research in any aspect of the biomedical or behavioral science of drug use and addiction. Previous fellows have conducted research in all aspects of drug use and addiction, including basic biological and behavioral research, epidemiology, prevention, and treatment. Fellows and their mentors are encouraged to develop jointly and seek funding for a collaborative research project to be conducted in the fellow’s home country. Fellows and their U.S. mentors are part of a network of international scientists who exchange information and collaborate on drug use and addiction research nationally, regionally, and globally.

INVEST/Clinical Trials Network (CTN) Drug Use and Addiction Research Fellowship

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) International Program and the Center for Clinical Trials Network (CCTN) have joined forces to offer INVEST/CTN Fellowships to non-U.S. scientists who will work with a mentor affiliated with one of the Clinical Trials Network (CTN) Regional Research and Training Centers.

The INVEST/CTN Drug Use and Addiction Research Fellowship combines postdoctoral research training in the United States with professional development activities and grant-writing guidance to form a unique program for drug use and addiction scientists. Fellows may conduct their research in any aspect of the CTN research agenda on drug use and addiction, such as intervention research, clinical trials methodology, or drug use treatment as HIV/AIDS prevention. Fellows and their mentors are encouraged to develop jointly and seek funding for a collaborative research project to be conducted in the fellow's home country. Fellows and their U.S. mentors are part of a network of international scientists who exchange information and collaborate on drug use and addiction research nationally, regionally, and globally.

INVEST Prevention Drug Use and Addiction Research Fellowship

The NIDA INVEST Prevention Drug Use and Addiction Research Fellowship provides a unique opportunity for researchers from any country to obtain postdoctoral training with a NIDA-supported U.S. mentor. Prevention Research Fellows benefit from an intensive research training experience designed to enhance the fellow’s ability to conduct independent research upon return to their home country. Applicants and their U.S. mentor may propose to conduct their research in any area of drug use and addiction prevention research, such as prevention intervention research, prevention services research, prevention methodology, or drug use and addiction prevention as HIV/AIDS prevention. During the fellowship, the fellow receives training in drug use and addiction research methods, develops and conducts a research project with the NIDA grantee, and participates in professional development activities. Fellows also learn about the National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant application process from their U.S. mentor who has successfully sought NIDA support. Prevention Research Fellows and their U.S. mentors join a network of international scientists who exchange information and collaborate on drug use and addiction research nationally, regionally, and globally.

What Does the Fellowship Include?

The 12-month fellowship provides:

• Rigorous postdoctoral research training with a NIDA grantee at a U.S. Institution*  
  *Under the INVEST/CTN Fellowship, the postdoctoral research training is with a NIDA grantee affiliated with one of the CTN Regional Research and Training Centers.
• Professional development activities that help you establish personal relationships with NIDA grantees and NIDA officials who are willing to continue working with you after you return home.
• A stipend for living and personal expenses and an allowance to cover the cost of health insurance and professional development activities. The fellowship also provides air travel, for the fellow only, at the beginning and end of the fellowship.
• Fellows may apply to renew the fellowship once.

Who Is Eligible?

The requirements for applicants are:

• An earned doctoral degree in medicine, public health, or biomedical, behavioral, or social sciences.
• Postdoctoral research experience, including a demonstrated ability to engage in independent research (recommended 2 years of experience).
• Written assurance from an institution in the home country that there is a position to which the applicant can return after completing the fellowship.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Citizenship or permanent residency in a country other than the United States.
• Living and working outside the United States at the time the application is submitted.
• Eligibility for the J-1 visa to enter the United States.

Who Is Eligible To Be a Mentor?

Your mentor must be a NIDA-funded researcher in the United States. The mentor’s NIDA-funded grant must be active throughout the proposed fellowship period. Under the INVEST/CTN Fellowship, the mentor must also be affiliated with one of the CTN Regional Research and Training Centers. Under the INVEST Prevention Fellowship, the mentor’s research work must involve an aspect of drug use and addiction prevention research.

How Can I Find a Mentor?

First, write a brief summary of your goals for the fellowship. Outline your proposed research question, the scientific methods you will use to answer that question, and the data needed to complete your investigation. List the skills, techniques, or methods you wish to learn or improve during your fellowship.

This exercise will help you identify the search terms you can use to identify potential mentors. Search the RePORTER database of research projects supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), review peer-reviewed publications indexed by PubMed, consult the listing of previous INVEST fellows and mentors listing included below, or contact the NIDA International Program at ip@nida.nih.gov.

Before contacting a potential mentor, you should:

• Update your resume or curriculum vitae (CV) to ensure your information is current.
• Confirm your eligibility for the fellowship by emailing the NIDA International Program at ip@nida.nih.gov.
• Learn more about the potential mentor you’ve identified, including scientific discipline and specific research interests, by reviewing the potential mentor’s publications, research background, and professional website.

When emailing a potential mentor:

• Discuss how your proposed research project is compatible with the mentor’s research.
• Provide information about your eligibility, educational and professional background (include your CV and list of publications), and the goals of your fellowship and research project.
• Do not contact more than two or three potential mentors at the same time.

What Materials Should I Use To Prepare My Application?

Assembling your INVEST application requires careful and thorough coordination between you and your mentor. Review the instruction packet for information guiding the development of your application.

• NIDA International Program Drug Use and Addiction Research Fellowship Application Instruction Packet (PDF, 200KB)
• NIDA International Program Fellowship Application Reference Form (PDF, 135KB)

In addition to completing the online application forms, you must upload a detailed research plan and your mentor must upload a statement approving the plan and discussing how the research and fellowship plans were developed. You are responsible for writing the research plan, and your mentor must review and approve your plan before you upload it. These documents are the most important parts of the Fellowship application and should demonstrate collaboration between you and your mentor. To request examples of previously awarded fellowship applications, please e-mail us at ip@nida.nih.gov.

How Should I Apply?

You and your mentor must submit your individual portions of the fellowship application online.

Application components include:

• A completed electronic application form, which includes the uploaded research plan and mentor statement.
• A completed Reference Report Form and a letter of recommendation from two professional references. The letters of recommendation should be on the references’ official institution letterhead. The references must email the completed Reference Report Form and letter of recommendation directly to the NIDA International Program at ip@nida.nih.gov.
• The applicant must submit a Certification of doctoral degree(s) (including English translation if necessary). The Certification must be emailed directly to the NIDA International Program at ip@nida.nih.gov.
• The applicant must submit a letter providing assurance of a future position with the applicant’s current employer; the letter should be on the employer’s official letterhead. The letter of assurance must be emailed directly to the NIDA International Program at ip@nida.nih.gov.
• The mentor must submit a letter from an institution representative confirming the institution as a sponsor of the U.S. Department of State’s J-1 Exchange Visitor Program and the institution’s eligibility to prepare and issue the requisite Form DS-2019 for the INVEST applicant and his/her dependents. The Exchange Visitor Program sponsor confirmation letter must be emailed directly to the NIDA International Program at ip@nida.nih.gov.

You and your mentor must complete all sections of the electronic application form and upload the research plan and the mentor statement by 4:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on or before the deadline for the application period. All additional supporting documents (e.g., certification of doctoral degree, references, etc.) must be submitted by email on or before the deadline for the application period.

• Start the Fellow's Online Application.
• Start the Mentor's Online Application.

Annual Application Deadline: October 1  
Annual Notification of Award: December 1

For assistance, email the NIDA International Program at ip@nida.nih.gov.

Who Has Been a Postdoctoral Drug Use and Addiction Research Fellow and Mentor?

2013 to 2023

 

Year	Fellowship	Fellow	Mentor
2022	INVEST	Ilia Nadareishvili   Georgia	Jeffrey Samet, M.D., M.P.H.   Karsten Lunze, M.D., M.P.H., DrPH.   Boston Medical Center   Boston University School of Medicine
		Grace Scent   Nigeria	William Crano, Ph.D.   Claremont Graduate University
2021	INVEST	Darika Saingam   Thailand	Carl Latkin, Ph.D.   Johns Hopkins University
	INVEST/CTN	Laura Brandt   Germany	Edward Nunes, Ph.D.   Columbia University Irving Medical Center and New York State Psychiatric Institute
2020	INVEST	Joao Mauricio Castaldelli-Maia   Brazil	Silvia Martins, Ph.D.   Columbia University
		Larissa Maier   Switzerland	Dorie Apollonio, Ph.D.   University of California, San Francisco
		Tekendra Rai   India	Linda Cottler, Ph.D., M.P.H.   University of Florida
	INVEST NIDA Inserm	Lauren Reynolds   United States	Philippe Faure, Ph.D.   Neuroscience Paris Seine Institute, Sorbonne Université
2019	INVEST/CTN	Esperanza Romero Rodriguez   Spain	Richard Saitz, M.D., M.P.H.   Boston University
	INVEST NIDA Inserm	Lauren Reynolds   United States	Philippe Faure, Ph.D.   Neuroscience Paris Seine Institute, Sorbonne Université
2018	INVEST	Reza Ghanbari   Iran	Susan Sumner, Ph.D.   University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
		Marina Vetrova   Russia	Jeffrey Samet, M.D., M.P.H.   Boston Medical Center
	INVEST/CTN	Esperanza Romero Rodriguez   Spain	Richard Saitz, M.D., M.P.H.   Boston University
	INVEST NIDA Inserm	Marine Azevedo da Silva   France	Silvia S. Martins, Ph.D.   Columbia University
		Anissa Bara   France	Yasmin Hurd, Ph.D.   Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
2017	INVEST	Judit Tirado-Munoz   Spain	Daniel Werb, Ph.D.   University of California, San Diego
	INVEST NIDA Inserm	Marine Azevedo da Silva   France	Silvia S. Martins, Ph.D.   Columbia University
		Anissa Bara   France	Yasmin Hurd, Ph.D.   Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
2016	INVEST	Reza Ghanbari   Iran	Susan Sumner, Ph.D.   University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
	INVEST/CTN	Anne Campbell   Ireland	Dennis McCarty, Ph.D.   Oregon Health & Science University
	INVEST NIDA Inserm	Yann Pelloux   France	Shaham Yavin, Ph.D.   NIDA Intramural Research Program, USA
		Andrew Scheyer   United States	Olivier Jacques Jose Manzoni, Ph.D.   Institut de Neurobiologie de la Mediterranee, France
2015	INVEST	Yanhui Liao   China	Edythe London, Ph.D.   University of California, Los Angeles
		Bulat Idrisov   Russia	Jeffrey Samet, M.D., M.P.H.   Boston Medical Center
		Roy Otten   The Netherlands	Thomas J. Dishion, Ph.D.   Arizona State University
	INVEST/CTN	Lysa Remy   Brazil	George E. Woody, M.D.   University of Pennsylvania
	INVEST NIDA Inserm	Celine Nicolas   France	Satoshi Ikemoto, Ph.D.   NIDA Intramural Research Program, USA
		Vivien Zell   France	Thomas Hnasko, Ph.D.   University of California, San Diego, USA
	INVEST Prevention	Annick Bórquez   Mexico/United Kingdom	Natasha K. Martin, Ph.D.   University of California, San Diego
	NIDA-ANRS	Rubén Muñoz   Spain	Kimberly Brouwer, Ph.D.   University of California, San Diego
2014	INVEST	Jinsong Tang   China	Edythe London, Ph.D.   University of California, Los Angeles
	INVEST/CTN	Chandra Jha   Australia	Dennis M. Donovan, Ph.D.   University of Washington
	INVEST NIDA Inserm	Vivien Zell   France	Thomas Hnasko, Ph.D.   University of California, San Diego, USA
		Yann Pelloux   France	Shaham Yavin, Ph.D.   NIDA Intramural Research Program
		Andrew Scheyer   United States	Olivier Jacques Jose Manzoni, Ph.D.   Institut de Neurobiologie de la Mediterranee, France
	NIDA-ANRS	Nicholas Thomson   Australia	Chris Beyrer, M.D.   Johns Hopkins University
		Trupti Ishwar Gilada   India	Ann Duerr, Ph.D., M.D., M.P.H.   Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, University of Washington
		Andrew Guise   United Kingdom	Steffanie Strathdee, Ph.D.   University of California, San Diego
		Ernest T. Chivero   Zimbabwe	Shilpa Buch, Ph.D.   University of Nebraska Medical Center
2013	INVEST	Antonis Gardikiotis   Greece	William D. Crano, Ph.D.   Claremont Graduate University
		Zulvia Syarif   Indonesia	Marek C. Chawarski, Ph.D.   Yale University
		Bilal Salem   Saudi Arabia	Richard A. Rawson, Ph.D.   University of California, Los Angeles
		Makhbatsho Bakhromov   Tajikistan	Carl A. Latkin, Ph.D.   Johns Hopkins University
		Michel Verheij   The Netherlands	George F. Koob, Ph.D.   The Scripps Research Institute
	INVEST/CTN	Haifeng Jiang   China	Walter Ling, M.D.   University of California, Los Angeles
	NIDA-IAS-ANRS	Sin How Lim   Malaysia	Frederick L. Altice, M.D.   Yale University
		Francis Bajunirwe   Uganda	David R. Bangsberg, M.D., M.P.H.   Harvard Medical School
		Anh Dam Tran   Vietnam	Gregory S. Zaric, Ph.D.   University of Western Ontario, Canada
		Bach Xuan Tran   Vietnam	Carl A. Latkin, Ph.D.   Johns Hopkins University

2000 to 2012

 

Year	Fellowship	Fellow	Mentor
2012	INVEST	Jan Klimas   Ireland	Dennis McCarty, Ph.D.   Oregon Health & Science University
		Sujung Yoon   South Korea	Perry F. Renshaw, M.D., Ph.D.   The Brain Institute, University of Utah
		Tetiana Kiriazova   Ukraine	Jeffrey H. Samet, M.D., M.P.H.   Boston Medical Center
	NIDA-IAS	Md. Salequl Islam Saleque   Bangladesh	Gregory D. Kirk, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H.   Johns Hopkins University
		Georgios Nikolopoulos   Greece	Samuel R. Friedman, Ph.D.   National Development and Research Institutes, Inc.
		Mehrak Javadi Paydar   Iran	Rosemarie M. Booze, Ph.D.   University of South Carolina
		Seyed Ramin Radfar   Iran	Richard A. Rawson, Ph.D.   University of California, Los Angeles
		Makhbatsho Bakhromov   Tajikistan	Judith A. Levy, Ph.D.   University of Illinois at Chicago
2011	INVEST	Gabor Egervari   Hungary	Yasmin L. Hurd, Ph.D.   Mount Sinai School of Medicine
		Saeed Momtazi   Iran	Richard A. Rawson, Ph.D.   University of California, Los Angeles
		Hongqiang Sun   China	Thomas R. Kosten, M.D.   Baylor College of Medicine
		Arina Tyurina   Russia	Jeffrey H. Samet, M.D., M.P.H.   Boston Medical Center
	INVEST/CTN	Vivi Octavia Lubis   Indonesia	George E. Woody, M.D.   University of Pennsylvania
	INVEST Prevention	Argentina Servin   Mexico	Steffanie Strathdee, Ph.D., and Jay G. Silverman, Ph.D.   University of California, San Diego
	NIDA-IAS	Huaihui Zhang   China	Richard Schottenfeld, M.D.   Yale University
		Jinmei Meng   China	Scott Burris, J.D.   Temple University
		Iko Safika   Indonesia	Timothy P. Johnson, Ph.D.   University of Illinois at Chicago
2010	INVEST	Perrine Roux   France	Sandra Comer, Ph.D.   Columbia University
		Mikhail Torban   Russia	Robert Heimer, Ph.D.   Yale University
		Huaihui Zhang   China	Richard Schottenfeld, M.D.   Yale University
	INVEST/CTN	Cecile Denis   France	John Cacciola, Ph.D., and Charles O'Brien, M.D., Ph.D.   University of Pennsylvania
		Sergii Dvoriak   Ukraine	George E. Woody, M.D.   University of Pennsylvania
		Maria de L. Garcia-Anaya   Mexico	Edward V. Nunes, Jr., M.D.   New York State Psychiatric Institute   José Szapocznik, Ph.D.   University of Miami
		Rushit Ismajli   Kosovo	Dennis M. Donovan, Ph.D.   University of Washington
		Effatalsadat Merghati Kohei   Iran	Kathleen T. Brady, M.D., Ph.D.   Medical University of South Carolina
		Xuyi Wang   China	Walter Ling, M.D.   University of California, Los Angeles
	NIDA-IAS	Shusen Liu   China	Zunyou Wu, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H.   National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, China
		Adhi Nurhidayat   Indonesia	David Metzger, Ph.D.   University of Pennsylvania
		Elena Dukhovlinova   Russia	Ronald I. Swanstrom, Ph.D.   University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill
		Jonathan Claude Ipser   South Africa	Igor Grant, M.D., FRCP(C)   University of California, San Diego
2009	INVEST	Marta Concheiro Guisan   Spain	Marilyn Huestis, Ph.D.   NIDA Intramural Research Program
		Sheng Liu   China	Gary S. Aston-Jones, Ph.D.   Medical University of South Carolina
		Alberto Moriggia   Italy	David L. Thomas, M.D.   Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
	INVEST/CTN	Suzanne Nielsen   Australia	Walter Ling, M.D.   University of California, Los Angeles
		Felipe Vallejo Reyes   Chile	Eugene Somoza, M.D., Ph.D.   University of Cincinnati
		Meera Vaswani   India	Wade Berrettini, M.D., Ph.D.   University of Pennsylvania
	NIDA-IAS	Micah Ongeri Oyaro   Kenya	John L. Wylie, Ph.D.   University of Manitoba, Canada
		Maria Gudelia Rangel   Mexico	Steffanie Strathdee, Ph.D.   University of California, San Diego
2008	INVEST	Jiang Du   China	Hser Yih-Ing, Ph.D.   University of California, Los Angeles
		Paula M. Mayock   Ireland	Michael C. Clatts, Ph.D.   National Development and Research Institutes, Inc.
		Adhi Wibowo Nurhidayat   Indonesia	David Metzger, Ph.D., and George E. Woody, M.D.   University of Pennsylvania
		Akiko Shimamoto Kiyoshima   Japan	Klaus A. Miczek, Ph.D.   Tufts University
		Paulo Roberto Telles P. Diaz   Brazil	Kimberly Page Shafer, Ph.D.   Institute for Global Health/CAPS, University of California, San Francisco
		Wenhua Zhou   China	Peter Kalivas, Ph.D.   Medical University of South Carolina
	INVEST/CTN	Leonardo Estacio, Jr.   Philippines	Dennis M. Donovan, Ph.D.   University of Washington
		Mario Zapata   Colombia	Michael Robbins, Ph.D.   University of Miami
2007	INVEST	Wagner Alves de Souza Judice   Brazil	Iris Lindberg, Ph.D., M.P.H.   Louisiana State University and the University of Maryland, Baltimore
		Doug Hyun Han   South Korea	Perry F. Renshaw, M.D., Ph.D.   McLean Brain Imaging Center and Harvard Medical School
		Sung-Jin Cho   South Korea	Alan P. Kozikowski, Ph.D.   University of Illinois at Chicago
	INVEST/CTN	Amit Chakrabarti   India	Roger Weiss, M.D.   McLean Hospital
		Gvantsa Piralishvili   Georgia	George E. Woody, M.D.   University of Pennsylvania
		Chen Hanhui   China	Walter Ling, M.D.   University of California, Los Angeles
2006	INVEST	Tsafrir Loebl   Israel	A. Eden Evins, M.D., M.P.H.   Addictions Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital
		Oscar Quintela   Spain	Dennis Crouch, M.B.A.   Center for Human Toxicology, University of Utah   J. Michael Walsh, Ph.D.   The Walsh Group
		Maciej Stasiak   Poland	Nicholas E. Goeders, Ph.D.   Louisiana State University, Health Sciences Center - Shreveport
		Young Hoon Sung   South Korea	Perry F. Renshaw, M.D., Ph.D.   McLean Brain Imaging Center
2005	INVEST	Marco Bortolato   Italy	Daniele Piomelli, Ph.D., Pharm.D.   University of California, Irvine
		Lan Zhang   China	Kenneth Kendler, M.D.   Virginia Commonwealth University
		Liliana Cancela   Argentina	Peter W. Kalivas, Ph.D.   Medical University of South Carolina
2004	INVEST	Marjaterttu Pajulo   Finland	Linda C. Mayes, M.D.   Yale University School of Medicine
		Yufeng Chen   China	Alan P. Kozikowski, Ph.D.   University of Illinois at Chicago
2003	INVEST	Isabelle Husson   France	Barry E. Kosofsky, M.D., Ph.D.   Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital East
		Tamo Nakamura   Australia	Anthony A. Wright, Ph.D.   University of Texas Medical School at Houston
		Yilang Tang   China	Joseph F. Cubells, M.D., Ph.D.   Yale University School of Medicine
2002	INVEST	Debasish Basu   India	Joel Gelernter, M.D.   Yale University
		Patricia Obando   Costa Rica	Dace Svikis, Ph.D.   Virginia Commonwealth University
		Tatiana P. Tsarouk   Russia	Elaine Thompson, Ph.D.   University of Washington, Seattle
		Min Zhao   China	Howard Liddle, Ed.D.   University of Miami School of Medicine
2001	INVEST	Henrik Druid   Sweden	Deborah C. Mash, Ph.D.   University of Miami
		Chuang Liu   China	Elliot A. Stein, Ph.D   Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
1999-2000	INVEST	Abdel Azim Assi   Egypt	Charles I. Chavkin, Ph.D.   University of Washington, Seattle
		Elisa Mengual   Spain	Virginia M. Pickel, Ph.D.   Weill Medical College of Cornell University
		Vaughan Rees   Australia	Jeffrey H. Samet, M.D., M.P.H.   Boston University School of Medicine

1994 to 1999

 

Year	Fellowship	Fellow	Mentor
1998-99	INVEST	You Wan   China	Jeffrey S. Mogil, Ph.D.   University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
		Neo Morojele   South Africa	Judith S. Brook, Ed.D.   Mount Sinai School of Medicine
1997-98	INVEST	Guilherme Borges   Mexico	Ronald C. Kessler, Ph.D.   Harvard Medical School
		Yulia Lyupina   Russia	James E. Smith, Ph.D.   Wake Forest University School of Medicine
		Olivier Manzoni   France	John T. Williams, Ph.D.   Oregon Health Sciences University
1996-97	INVEST	Silvia Cruz   Mexico	Robert L. Balster, Ph.D.   Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
		Raka Jain   India	Stephen G. Holtzman, Ph.D. (deceased)   Emory University School of Medicine
		Danxin Wang   China	Wolfgang Sadée, Ph.D.   University of California, San Francisco
1995-96	INVEST	Bashir Ahmad   Pakistan	Nissar A. Darmani, Ph.D.   Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
		Irena Martin-Kleiner   Croatia	Jean M. Bidlack, Ph.D.   University of Rochester
		Steve McGaraughty   Canada	Mary M. Heinricher, Ph.D.   Oregon Health Sciences University
		Zhengxiong Xi   China	Elliot A. Stein, Ph.D.   Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
1994-95	INVEST	Anton Bespalov   Russia	Robert L. Balster, Ph.D.   Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
		Suchandra Ghosh   India	Martin A. Adler, Ph.D.   Temple University School of Medicine
		Ella Nikulina   Russia	Klaus A. Miczek, Ph.D.   Tufts University
1993-94	INVEST	Yaprak Egilmez   Turkey	Michael Emmett Oglesby, Ph.D.   University of North Texas Health Science Center
		Gerald Zernig   Austria	James H. Woods, Ph.D.   University of Michigan Medical School