Clinical Chemistry

Lu Song, PhD, Program Director(Link opens in new window)

The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine offers one two-year fellowship in Clinical Chemistry under the direction of Lu Song. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Clinical Chemistry. Qualified candidates should have a Ph.D from a recognized institution of higher learning. The program will provide training in various specialties of clinical chemistry, laboratory operations, compliance, quality assurance, and informatics. The program will also stress molecular diagnostic testing, genetics, quality initiatives and the application of laboratory test results to the management of patients. The trainee will also be expected to participate in applied clinical, translational or basic science research with a UCLA faculty member.

Requirements & Application

Applicants with more than three prior years of postdoctoral experience are not eligible to apply for this fellowship. Trainees are employed as postdoctoral fellows for the duration of their fellowship, and the UCLA Graduate Division does not allow the total duration of an individual's postdoctoral service to exceed five years (see #6 under Terms of Service here): https://grad.ucla.edu/gss/postdoc/pdfund.htm(Link is external) (Link opens in new window)

Qualified candidates must have completed a Ph.D or equivalent degree from a recognized institution of higher learning. Applicants must have satisfactorily completed a minimum of 30 semester hours (or equivalent) in undergraduate and/or graduate level chemistry courses to meet certification eligibility requirements by the American Board of Clinical Chemistry.

Table 1. Required Distribution of Coursework by Certification Discipline

		Minimum Required Number of Semester Hours per ABCC Certficiation Discipline
Course Classification	Subject Area or Related Course	Clinical Chemistry and Toxicological Chemistry	Molecular Diagnostics
Type A	Undergraduate or graduate courses in analytic, organic, physical, or general chemistry, or biochemistry	28 hours	At least 20 hours from Type A & B courses. The remaining 10 hours may include Type A, B, or C courses
Type B	Undergraduate or graduate courses in toxicology, animal biology, molecular biology, medical genetics, genetics, microbiology or immunology	2 hours
Type C	Undergraduate or graduate courses in material or computer sciences, or bioinformatics

One fellow will be accepted for a two-year period starting either January or July 1. Applications will be accepted from May 1 through August 1st for positions starting the following year. The application is on-line and will be posted on our website beginning May 1.

The items listed below constitute a complete application:
1. Letter of intent
2. Curriculum vitae
3. Three letters of recommendation

Selected applicants will be required to complete a formal application and submit transcripts of graduate and undergraduate records. Foreign graduates with credentials earned outside of the United States or Canada will be required to submit a credentials evaluation from an ABCC (American Board of Clinical Chemistry) approved agency. Visit the ABBC (American Board of Clinical Chemistry) website to view the list of approved credentials evaluation services.
Interview is required and will include a seminar presentation.

Please note: UCLA does not sponsor HB1 visas. J-1 visas cannot be extended beyond a third year, if one was previously obtained within a specified time frame.