Description

The Norton Fellowship in Pancreatic Translational Sciences is a two-year, full-time research fellowship offered by the Brenden-Colson Center for Pancreatic Care (BCCPC) at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). This fellowship is designed to support and train future surgeon-scientists pursuing careers in pancreatic translational research.

The fellowship provides a structured, mentored research experience for general surgery residents, typically undertaken after completion of the second or third year of clinical training. Fellows will engage in goal-oriented basic and translational research focused on pancreatic disease biology, therapeutic development, and clinical translation, with the expectation of producing at least one first-author, laboratory-based publication.

Fellows will select a primary research mentor from a group of established OHSU faculty whose programs focus on pancreatic cancer biology, immunology, metabolism, neuro-tumor interactions, and advanced therapeutic strategies. Mentorship is intended to extend beyond the fellowship period, supporting the fellow’s long-term development as an independent investigator.

This fellowship was established to honor Jeff Norton, MD, and his legacy as a mentor and leader in pancreatic surgical science. The program aims to address a critical inflection point in surgeon-scientist training by providing protected research time, rigorous scientific development, and integration within a collaborative pancreatic research community.

The fellowship begins August 1, 2027, and includes salary support equivalent to the fellow’s matched residency year, full fringe benefits, and relocation support.

Requirements

Eligibility Criteria

• MD or DO degree required
• Enrolled in an accredited general surgery residency program in the United States
• Must have completed at least two years of clinical surgical training by the fellowship start date
• Applicants may be early- or mid-residency, or later in training with a demonstrated commitment to a surgeon-scientist career path
• Applicants may not hold another concurrent research fellowship or funded research position

Fellowship Expectations

• Commitment to a two-year, full-time research fellowship
• Active participation in mentor laboratory activities, BCCPC research meetings, and institutional seminar series
• Submission of at least one research manuscript for publication during the fellowship period
• Completion of interim and annual progress reports and presentation of research findings at BCCPC forums
• Compliance with all IRB and/or IACUC requirements prior to release of research funds

Funding & Support

• Salary support equivalent to matched residency year, plus fringe benefits
• Relocation assistance up to $10,000 or 10% of salary (whichever is lower)
• Fellowship funding is provided through philanthropic support to the Brenden-Colson Center for Pancreatic Care