Clinical Scientist in Nephrology (CSN) Program

Clinical Scientist in Nephrology (CSN) Program is sponsored by American Kidney Fund (AKF) and American Society of Nephrology (ASN). This fellowship program funds researchers whose work is designed to improve diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes for patients living with chronic kidney disease, promoting clinical research in nephrology.

Clinical Scientist in Nephrology Fellowship | American Kidney Fund For over 30 years, the American Kidney Fund Clinical Scientist in Nephrology (CSN) fellowship program has funded researchers whose work is designed to improve diagnosis, treatment and outcomes for patients living with chronic kidney disease and has promoted clinical research in nephrology.

Our CSN fellows conduct prevention and outcomes research while receiving advanced training in areas related to the AKF vision. The CSN program has trained some of nephrology's brightest scholars who have gone on to become leaders in the field and mentors to new generations of scientists studying kidney disease. Many former CSN fellows have conducted groundbreaking research that advances knowledge and treatment of kidney disease.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Drs. Alexandra Bicki, Glenn Chertow, Gary Curhan, Maria E. Diaz-Gonzalez de Ferris, Christine Limonte, and Alison Potok for sharing their experiences as program alumni and for paving the way for future fellows.

View their stories below. The 2027-2028 Clinical Scientist in Nephrology (CSN) Fellowship Program application is now available. The deadline for applications is January 5, 2027.

Eligible candidates must electronically submit their application via email to: professionaleducation@kidneyfund. org A Clinical Scientist in Nephrology Fellowship may be granted yearly based on program funding. The maximum duration of each fellowship is two years.

The second year of funding is not automatic and is dependent on approval of the first year's progress report. The maximum level of funding is $90,000 per year and shall be used principally to support the candidate and his/her career development. Each fellowship may be granted yearly, with a maximum duration of two years for each fellowship.

The maximum level of funding of $90,000 per year shall be used principally to support the candidate and his or her career development. This sum is expected to cover the individual fellow's salary (not to exceed $65,000) as well as training-related expenses.

Acceptable candidates for the Clinical Scientist in Nephrology Fellowship are individuals who: Are qualified to sit for the American Board of Internal Medicine or Pediatrics Have completed a residency in internal medicine or pediatrics Are in the process of completing or have completed at least one year of training in clinical nephrology in an accredited U.S. program Can demonstrate an aptitude for and a commitment to developing special expertise in an area of knowledge applicable to clinical nephrology Intend to pursue a professional career with emphasis on independent research, and the provision of care to patients with kidney diseases, preferably within the confines of an academic medical center where they will be exposed to continued learning and teaching Can secure the support of their training program in the pursuit of these goals Can commit to timely communication with AKF including but not limited to prompt responses to AKF's requests for progress reports during the Fellowship If awarded, the first year's funding will begin July 1, 2026, and proceed through June 30, 2027.

Sample submission requirements Candidate information and NIH biosketch, a statement of intent, description of the proposed research project, three references including one from your institution's nephrology program director, letters of support from your institution's chief/head of the Division of Nephrology and mentor, and budget proposal.

Meet our 2026 CSN fellows Sophie Claudel, MD is a nephrology fellow at Boston Medical Center and Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, where she studies the intersection of kidney and cardiovascular diseases. She earned her MD from the Wake Forest University School of Medicine and completed a clinical research fellowship at the National Institutes of Health during her medical school training.

She completed her internal medicine residency and chief year at Boston Medical Center through the NIH R38-funded Promoting Research in Medical Residency (PRIMER) pathway. Dr. Claudel's research examines the bidirectional relationship between chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease.

By integrating epidemiology, clinical phenotyping, and 'omics' approaches, she aims to uncover shared mechanisms of disease and inform strategies for prevention. Her research will examine the proteomics of albuminuria and subclinical vascular disease among a unique population of individuals without diabetes or low kidney function.

She hopes that uncovering the shared pathways between early kidney and vascular disease will provide insight into new treatments to stop disease progression. "Kidney and heart disease are deeply interconnected, yet the molecular pathways linking them remain poorly understood, especially in the earliest stages, when injury is clinically silent and opportunities for intervention are most easily missed.

My research focuses on the proteins and pathways that connect albuminuria and vascular injury at these critical early timepoints, with the goal of identifying new targets for detection and treatment before irreversible damage occurs.

The American Kidney Fund's mission to fight kidney disease and help people live healthier lives is exactly what drives this work: if we can intervene earlier, we can change outcomes for the millions of patients living with, or at risk for, kidney and cardiovascular disease. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to pursue this science through the Clinical Scientist in Nephrology fellowship."

Dr. Kiernan is a clinical research fellow in nephrology at University of Washington in Seattle. Her research is focused on the study of endothelial cell biology across kidney diseases. Endothelial cells are a specialized cell type which line blood vessels and are integral to preservation of kidney function by regulating blood flow, filtration and inflammation.

Using advanced cellular and molecular techniques including single cell sequencing, Dr. Kiernan will investigate endothelial cell signaling using kidney biopsies from patients with diabetes and acute kidney injury. Her goal is to identify specific molecular patterns that indicate endothelial injury and to understand their association with histopathologic and clinical outcomes.

Dr. Kiernan hopes to apply these findings to improve non-invasive assessment of disease and to guide development of targeted therapies that will benefit patients as individuals. Dr. Liz Kiernan is a clinical research fellow in nephrology at University of Washington in Seattle. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry at the Pennsylvania State University and her Medical Degree at Temple University School of Medicine.

She then completed her residency in Internal Medicine at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and served as an Assistant Chief of Service in 2024 - 2025. "I chose to become a nephrologist to help patients who suffer from a disease that is often recognized late in its course with life altering implications.

Modern scientific research methods have equipped us with tools to enable earlier disease identification and to reveal mechanisms that drive disease progression. I believe nephrology stands at the precipice of transformative advancements that will improve the lives of our patients. I am honored to receive the support of the American Kidney Fund and to join a community of scientists devoted to this mission."

Our commitment to advancing kidney disease innovation and research, including through our CSN Fellowship, never rests. Join our online community to follow AKF's priorities and stay involved in our mission. Was this information helpful?

Thank you for helping make our resources and tools better. Power the future of nephrology Every year, the American Kidney Fund helps millions of people – from health professionals to patients to families – understand and navigate kidney disease through powerful education, prevention and outreach. Donate today to support efforts like our Clinical Scientist in Nephrology program to prepare more leaders and experts in kidney health care.

We're sorry this resource didn't meet your needs right now. We invite you to visit our resources homepage for health professionals and everyone committed to making life better for the kidney community. Meet our previous CSN fellows For three decades we have supported clinical research, identifying emerging clinical researchers seeking to advance patient care and providing fellowships to fund their research.

Learn about our previous fellows and their research The CSN fellowship program is an educational activity that is made in part by grants from Akebia Therapeutics and the Hearst Foundation. Help us build a research pipeline Help AKF identify and fund the most promising researchers who will advance innovation in kidney disease treatment.

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