Welcome to the UCLA Specialty Training and Advanced Research (STAR) Program website. For the past 26 years, the STAR Program has made it possible for residents and fellows to pursue a PhD at UCLA, Caltech, or RAND, simultaneously with their clinical specialty training at UCLA. We are proud to direct a program that is nationally recognized for its success. The vast majority of our graduates remain in research careers within academia, research institutes, or biotechnology.

The STAR Program is nearly unique in the country in providing a PhD and in providing it at the most advanced level of clinical training, a strategy that greatly facilitates the transition from fellowship to faculty positions. To integrate clinical and research training opportunities, STAR Program Directors work closely with clinical fellowship directors and research mentors across several graduate schools and departments at all three institutions. STAR Award recipients are provided monthly career development seminars, direct senior mentoring, graduate school tuition, as well as salary support and benefits from their clinical departments commensurate with clinical training (PGY) level. Graduates of this program have taken leadership roles throughout the country, serving as program directors, chiefs, and chairs of departments. This website should give you more insight into our various alternate routes and the exciting opportunities available in STAR. Please feel free to contact our program office at STARProgram@mednet.ucla.edu. We look forward to seeing you at UCLA.