Mount Sinai K12 Programs — Website Concept

About the Program

Building Interdisciplinary
Research Careers at Mount Sinai

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Our Overarching Mission

To develop the next generation of independent clinician-scientists through rigorous mentored research, career training, and interdisciplinary collaboration — with a focus on environmental health, women's health, and pediatrics across the life course.

25%

Time for research & career development

75%

Protected research time guaranteed

The Mount Sinai K12 programs are NIH-funded institutional training grants housed within the Department of Public Health Sciences. Scholars receive protected research time, salary support, and access to one of the most advanced research ecosystems in New York City.

Scholars benefit from access to diverse patient cohorts, biorepositories, and EHR databases — along with individualized mentorship from nationally recognized faculty leaders in environmental medicine, epidemiology, and clinical research.

Environmental Health Exposomics Life-Course Science Sex-Specific Biology Health Equity Biostatistics & Data Science Clinical Research

Program Leadership

Meet the Program Directors

Our scholars are guided by world-class faculty leaders with decades of research experience and a deep commitment to mentorship.

Principal Investigator · Both Programs

Rosalind J. Wright, MD, MPH

Dean of Public Health · Horace W. Goldsmith Professor & Chair, Department of Public Health · ConduITS PI, Mount Sinai Health System CTSA

Life-Course Epidemiology Exposomics Women's Health

MPI · LEAP K12 Women's Health

Kecia Carroll, MD, MPH

Professor, Jack & Lucy Clark Dept. of Pediatrics · Chief, Division of General Pediatrics · K24 Patient-Oriented Research Awardee · Co-Director, KL2 Program (CTSA)

Environmental Health Nutritional Epidemiology

Current Scholars

Our Research Leaders

Each scholar brings unique expertise across emergency medicine, OB/GYN, environmental medicine, and public health — united by a commitment to advancing human health.

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PEDS K12

Sarah McCuskee, MD, MPhil

Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine and Global Health & Health Systems Design · Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Research Focus

[Add Sarah's research summary — 2–3 sentences on her K12 project focus, methods, and population served]

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PEDS K12

Chelsea DeBolt, MD

Assistant Professor, Raquel and Jaime Gilinski Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science · Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Research Focus

[Add Chelsea's research summary — 2–3 sentences on her K12 project focus, methods, and population served]

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LEAP K12

Francheska Merced-Nieves, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health · Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Research Focus

Investigating prenatal maternal perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure and childhood sleep quality, examining sex-specific programming effects on child health outcomes across development.

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LEAP K12

Jamil Lane, PhD, MPH

Assistant Professor, Division of Environmental Epidemiology, Department of Environmental Medicine · Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Research Focus

Examining sex-specific programming effects of prenatal metal mixture exposures on autonomic nervous system regulation and behavioral development in early childhood.

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LEAP K12

Aderonke Akinkugbe, PhD, MPH

Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Medicine · Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Research Focus

Exploring the role of placental iodine as a modifier in the association between placental mitochondrial DNA mutational load and maternal-child neuropsychological functioning.

Current Opportunities

Eligibility & How to Apply

We welcome applications from clinician-scientists committed to an independent academic research career in public health, environmental health, or women's health.

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Academic Qualifications