Stanford Women’s Reproductive Health Research Program 2027 Application RFA

The principal mission of the Women's Reproductive Health Research at Stanford (WRHRS) Program is to provide state-of-the-art, mentored, multidisciplinary research career development for outstanding junior clinician-scientists who will impact and improve women's reproductive health. Diversity of thought, experience and approach are fundamental principles of our Program.

The WRHRS Program bridges clinical care with excellence in basic, clinical and translational research to address the national shortage of qualified investigators in this discipline. The Program includes a structured training plan of sufficient duration to achieve independence, individualized didactic education based on skills, competencies, and needs, extensive team-based mentoring, hands-on research, and protected time with immersion in a vibrant research community. Scholars will pursue one of seven Research Focus Areas:

• 1) Maternal-Child Health & Epidemiology,

• 2) Reproductive Biology,

• 3) Gynecologic Health Across the Lifespan,

• 4) Gynecologic Oncology,

• 5) Innovative Technology

• 6) Social Medicine and Health Equity

Each Scholar will have a multidisciplinary mentor team as well as access to a wealth of resources and the rigorous reproductive research infrastructure of the OB/GYN Department and beyond. The K12 Program will provide a seamless transition for the K12 scholars through the career development process to an independent investigator.

K12 Mentored Career Development Program
The K12 award provides salary and a minimum of $25,000 per year in research support. It is expected that the research performed within the K12 program will provide the basis for an independent NIH award (R01 or R21). In general, 9 person months (75% full-time effort) must be devoted to the K12 program.

Eligibility:
Successful applicants will demonstrate exceptional skills in their fellowship research program and/or in their early junior faculty experience. A strong commitment to an academic research career in women's reproductive health research will be an important qualifying characteristic, exemplified by publications.

Candidates must: 1) be planning an academic research career; 2) physicians holding the M.D. or D.O. degree; 3) have completed postgraduate residency training in obstetrics and gynecology; 4) be no more than 4 years after attaining board eligibility in their subspecialty; 5) have completed or be in the final year of postdoctoral fellowship training in obstetrics and gynecology, if the candidate has chosen to subspecialize, or advanced training in clinical research; 6) be able to devote at least 9 person months (or equivalent to 75%) of full-time professional effort to conducting research and research career development (or 50% if surgical heavy subspecialist); and 7) not be or have been PI on an R01, R29, U01/U10, subproject of a Program Project, Center grant, or individual mentored or non-mentored career development award (e.g., K01, K02, K08, K22, K23, K24, K25, K99).

Appointment
The number and type of appointments available in any one year depend in part on the number of previously appointed Scholars continuing in the Program. We currently have one open position starting July 2027. Continuation of participation in the WRHRS Program will depend on evidence of progress toward independence and on continuing need for support.

Salary Range
The expected base pay range for this position is: $175,000 - $193,00.

Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer.

The university's central functions of research and education depend on freedom of thought, and expression. The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, and Stanford University value faculty who will help foster an open and respectful academic environment for colleagues, students, and staff with a wide range of backgrounds, identities, and perspectives. Candidates may choose to include as part of their research and teaching statements a brief discussion about how their work and experience will further these values.

All K12 Stanford WRHR applications must include:

1. Cover Letter (optional)

2. Curriculum vitae

3. Evidence of M.D., or D.O. degree with completion of postgraduate residency

4. Evidence of US citizenship or permanent residency

5. 3 Letters of Reference

6. Statement of Research. 3-page outlining your research plan, career goals, and potential mentors

7. If Lead Mentor has been identified, a letter detailing their commitment to the Scholar and available resources.

Application Process & Deadlines
All applications are reviewed by the Selection Committee, using a process modeled on NIH peer review. All applications must be submitted as a single PDF file to View email address on click.appcast.io and View email address on click.appcast.io . Applications will be reviewed starting August 1st, 2026 and considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Interviews will be conducted starting in August 2026.

Principal Investigator:
Leslee Subak, MD
Katharine Dexter McCormick and Stanley McCormick Memorial Professor
Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Professor, by Courtesy, Department of Urology
Stanford University School of Medicine

Research Director and Recruitment Officer:
Virginia D. Winn, MD, PhD
Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Director, Reproductive, Stem Cell and Perinatal Biology
Maternal Fetal Medicine and Obstetrics
Stanford University School of Medicine

Potential Mentors by Focus Area

Maternal-Child Health & Epidemiology Faculty Mentors

• Brian Bateman, MD, MSC

• Suzan Carmichael, PhD

• Gary Darmstadt, MD, MS

• Yasser El-Sayed, MD

• Deirdre J. Lyell, MD

• Gary Shaw, DrPH

• Pervez Sultan, MD

Reproductive Biology Faculty Mentors

• Michael Angelo, MD, PhD

• Katherine Bianco, MD

• Catherine Blish, MD, PhD

• Ruth Lathi, MD

• Virginia D. Winn, MD, PhD

• Bo Yu, MD, MS

Gynecologic Health Across the Lifespan Faculty Mentors

• Paul Blumenthal, MD, MPH

• Bertha Chen, MD

• Amy Dobberfuhl, MD, MS

• Marcia Stefanick, PhD

• Leslee Subak, MD

Gynecologic Oncology Faculty Mentors

• Carolyn Bertozzi, PhD

• Oliver Dorigo, MD, PhD

• Sarah Heilshorn, PhD

• Brooke Howitt, MD

• Erinn Rankin, PhD

Innovative Technology

• Nima Aghaeepour, PhD

• Brice Gaudilliere, MD, PhD

• Michael Snyder, PhD

• Hyongsok Tom Soh, PhD

Social Medicine & Health Equity

• Catherine Benedict, PhD

• Ian Gotlib, PhD

• Debra Kaysen, PhD

• Anisha Patel MD, MSPH

• Ciaran Phibbs, PhD

• Holly Tabor, PhD