National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR)
NCRAR NIH NIDCD T-35 Summer Research Traineeships for AuD Students
The National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR) is a government research facility located at the VA Portland Health Care System in Portland, Oregon. NCRAR research is conducted either at our 20,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility, or at our local university affiliate, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), which is connected to the VA by a skybridge. We have four (4) traineeships available for Summer 2025 that will be awarded to outstanding students currently enrolled in a graduate program leading to the Doctorate of Audiology (AuD) degree. These traineeships are funded by a Ruth L. Kirschstein Short-term Training Grant (T35) from the National Institutes on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). Students from all AuD programs in the US are eligible to apply for this three-calendar-month summer program.
We expect that student trainees will work full time (40 hours per week) with their preceptor and research team. Our goal is to provide an immersive experience in which students develop knowledge, skills and strategies to help them conduct clinical research, develop an academic career, and become a leader in auditory and vestibular healthcare. In addition to conducting a mentored research project, students will attend seminars from nationally renowned scientists and take part in laboratory and staff meetings, and in NCRAR outreach activities. All T35 students across the country will also participate in an interactive ethics class, and other short courses arranged and hosted by T35 Program Directors from NCRAR, Boys Town National Research Hospital and Vanderbilt University. At the end of the traineeship, students will be expected to present their work to the NCRAR staff, and to prepare a poster for presentation at the Spring 2027 AAS meeting in Arizona.
Eligibility:
- Must be enrolled in an accredited Au.D. graduate program
- Must have had at least one year of graduate work in the Au.D. program
- Must not be currently enrolled in a PhD program or in an AuD/PhD program
- Must commit to a full-time traineeship (40 hours/week) at the NCRAR for three calendar months in the summer
- Must be a US citizen or permanent resident.
- Discuss your interest in participation in this program with your faculty advisor.
- Complete the application form.
- Please note that the application form includes a short writing prompt, CV, 2 faculty recommendations, and email confirmation of enrollment in-good-standing in your AuD program from your Department Chair.
- Note: If you have any difficulty preparing or submitting application materials, email Dr. Riley DeBacker at james.debacker@va.gov.
- Please include "NCRAR T35 2026" in the subject line of any email.
Each student will receive a stipend (based on the NIH published pre-doctoral stipend levels—$2,352 in 2024) for each of the three calendar months they participate in the program.
In past years, the AAS has provided a travel award to attend their annual Spring meeting.
Trainees are required to secure their own housing for the duration of the program. NCRAR staff are happy to answer any questions about housing and commuting options in the Portland Metro area.
For further information, please contact please contact Dr. Riley DeBacker (503) 220-8262, ext. 52448, james.debacker@va.gov.
Want to hear about NCRAR's T-35 program experience from a former student? Click here.
The National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR) generates knowledge and technology, and provides education to optimize hearing health and balance function. NCRAR is located in Portland, Oregon, which has been variously ranked as North America's best big city, best cycling city, top city for breweries, and a foodie’s paradise. It is a city of unmatched natural beauty, and boasts a bustling local scene, interesting museums and gardens, and sumptuous dining—all effortlessly accessed thanks to its justifiably famous public transportation system.
