The Emory Vaccinology Training Program (VTP) was created in response to an urgent need to train a new generation of researchers in the field of vaccinology. Vaccines have made an unparalleled contribution to preventive medicine – their successful introduction and widespread use has resulted in the eradication of smallpox, the elimination of wild polio virus from most parts of the world, and a 95 percent or greater reduction in morbidity within the United States as compared to representative 20th century rates for at least six other vaccine-preventable childhood diseases. While vaccines do hold great promise for reducing disease burden, a new generation of scientists is needed to address difficulties that have plagued efforts to develop and deliver additional needed vaccines for infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, hepatitis C, and tuberculosis and for other disabling diseases such as cancer and dementia.
The training objectives and goals of the Emory VTP include:
- To implement a systematic approach for identifying, recruiting, and retaining highly qualified, motivated, pre- and post- doctoral trainees.
- To provide each trainee a rigorous and tailored curriculum covering key aspects of vaccinology, a robust hands-on mentored research project, and career mentoring.
- To expand our integration of the strong basic science, translational research, implementation science, clinical trials, and vaccine policy programs at Emory into a multi-faceted training experience and inclusive environment promoting collaborations and interdisciplinary approaches
This program is sustained through funding from the NIAID of NIH under grant 5T32AI074492.
How to Apply:
Program Information
The Emory Vaccinology Training Program (VTP) was initiated in 2009 with NIAID funding through a T32 training grant. Our initial program was focused on postdoctoral fellows (e.g. PhD, MD, MD/PhD). Over time, the program has expanded to six post-doc fellow slots due to supplemental funding from the CDC which is dedicated to vaccine safety.
We have successfully undergone three competitive renewal processes at NIH. During this program’s 18-year history, we have had three directors (Drs. Mulligan, Orenstein and Rouphael). Currently, Drs. Rouphael, Lopman and Amara are leading the program.
Between 2009-2023, we have graduated 39 fellows (MD, PhD, and MD/PhD) with more than 200 peer-reviewed publications. VTP-T32 graduates have a strong career track record with 94% staying in government, industry or academia, and among them 87% are thriving in vaccine-related fields. In addition, more than 145 grants from a variety of funding sources have been awarded to our graduates.
In September 2025, the VTP-T32 program further expanded to include a predoctoral training track, the Vaccinology Data Science Training program (VDSTP). This unique training opportunity bridges data science and vaccinology, preparing the next generation of researchers to tackle critical challenges in vaccine research using cutting-edge computational methods. Please see dedicated section for more information on the predoctoral VDSTP training track.
The VTP-T32 has a strong history of dedicated faculty mentors with a breadth of knowledge expanding all the disciplines available for fellows to train. It is with their mentorship, the VTP-T32 fellows have experienced tremendous career success.
The breadth of training experiences reflects the broad array of disciplines comprising vaccinology research. More information on our post-doctoral training opportunities please see the dedicated section
Research Training Sections
Training and Educational Opportunities
Responsible Conduct of Research (Ethics) (pre and post)
All T32 trainees at Emory University are required to complete Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training offered through the Office of Postdoctoral Education (OPE) in the School of Medicine. The RCR Ethics course was developed by Emory University Ethics Center in collaboration with the OPE and is specifically designed for trainees conducting basic, translational or clinical research. Using a case study and faculty-led approach, discussions on conflict of interest, authorship, research misconduct, data acquisition and management, collaborative and team science, human subjects, animal use, and mentor/mentee relationships provide a broad appreciation for the ethical issues of research. A separate two-hour workshop on Rigor and Reproducibility is offered twice each year.
Post-doctoral Courses:
Vaccines and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (GH 571)
This course will help fellows develop an in‐depth understanding of epidemiological, biological, and applied aspects of commonly used vaccines and vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) of public health importance. The course content will be structured to review specific vaccines and VPDs (rather than overarching aspects of immunization programs covered in GH 566/EPI 566). Where relevant, the course lectures will use examples from both developed and developing countries.
Immunization Programs and Policies (EPI 566)
Provides an introduction to the entire spectrum of vaccines and immunization, including basic bench research through testing, licensure, and use; program design, implementation, and evaluation; and social, economic, and political factors affecting the use of vaccines. Primary emphasis will be on the international setting, but examples will also be taken from developed countries. Cross-listed with GH 566.
Pre-doctoral Courses:
Please see the VDSTP link for specifics on other required courses.