Program Overview

The Clinical Biochemical Genetics fellowship offered by the UAB Department of Genetics is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). This two-year postdoctoral training program is open to individuals with a Ph.D. and/or MD degree and a strong interest in medical genetics and clinical laboratory medicine. Experience in biochemistry, pediatrics, or laboratory medicine is preferable.

The UAB Clinical Biochemical Genetics fellowship provides specialized postdoctoral training leading to board-eligibility in this specialty. The fellowship aims to provide a broad experience and exposure to different elements of clinical laboratory operations, including a wide range of clinical tests, test interpretation, troubleshooting, laboratory certification programs (i.e., CAP and CLIA), quality control and assurance, lab management, and new test development.

The fellowship provides extensive training in a number of different analytical techniques, such as tandem mass spectrometry (MSMS), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Interpretation of test results, writing reports, and communication of results to healthcare providers and patients is a particular area of emphasis. CBG fellows also complete rotations in newborn screening, laboratory molecular genetics and cytogenetics, and multiple clinics at UAB Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Alabama, in order to establish a broad foundation in medical genetics.

Fellows accepted into the UAB CBG training program will be provided with a competitive salary (based on current NIH stipend guidelines) and a comprehensive benefits package.

Upon completion of the training program, fellows are eligible to sit for the general Medical Genetics and specialty Clinical Biochemical Genetics certification exams offered by the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ABMGG).

Applying to the Clinical Biochemical Genetics Fellowship

Application Eligibility

• Post-doctoral fellows entering the UAB CBG fellowship training program must hold an MD, DO, or Ph.D. degree. The Ph.D. degree must be in either genetics or a related field (per Section III.A.1.a of the ACGME Program Requirements for Graduate Medical Education in Laboratory Genetics and Genomics).

• All individuals with a doctoral degree earned outside of the U.S., Canada, or Puerto Rico who are planning to sit for the certification examination are strongly urged to have the ABMGG Credentials Committee review their credentials prior to the onset of training in an accredited fellowship for determination of equivalency of the doctoral degree. For more information, please check the ABMGG website.

• Please note: All applicants must be a U.S. Citizen, noncitizen national, or have a permanent U.S. resident status or a valid work Visa.

Application Process

The UAB Clinical Biochemical Genetics (CBG) fellowship training program is currently closed to new applicants. We anticipate the application process will resume in Summer 2025.

Required documents:

• Curriculum vitae
• Cover letter detailing experience and interest
• At least two (2) letters of reference
• ABMGG Credentials Review Committee approval letter (required for applicants with international doctoral degrees)

Program Leadership

Program Director 
J. Daniel Sharer, Ph.D., FACMG

Program Coordinator
Mandy Sharpe

Program Faculty
Joy Dean, MD, FACMG
Ali Al-Beshri, MD, FACMG
Fady Mikhail, MD, Ph.D., FACMG
Anna Hurst, MD, FACMG 

Contact Us

For further information/inquiries regarding the UAB CBG fellowship, please contact:

Mandy Sharpe
Program Coordinator
Department of Genetics, Heersink School of Medicine, UAB
Phone: 205-975-0061
Email: asharpe@uabmc.edu