The training program has a strong emphasis on clinical research training, with fellows functioning as integral members of the research team. Under the guidance of a faculty mentor, fellows will design and run their own projects, presenting their findings at regional or national meetings and prepare a manuscript for publication. In their first year of training, fellows spend 20 percent of their time on research, 33 percent in their second year and 50 percent in their third year.

Fellows meet with the Director of Fellowship Research during the first month of training regarding the scholarly expectations of the fellows. They are expected to identify a research project and a mentor in their first year.

The Scholarship Oversight Committee is responsible for overseeing and assessing the progress of the fellow towards meeting the American Board of Pediatrics requirements for scholarly activity. Each fellow presents a report of his/her research project to the Scholarship Oversight Committee annually (1st year) and at least semi-annually thereafter. Fellows use their first year research time to review literature, collect information, meet regularly with their mentor and develop and write up the project proposal. Fellows may join in on-going research of others. The fellows’ research time during the second and third year is dedicated to conducting research projects as proposed. It is hoped that fellows will present preliminary results at a national meeting and to submit a manuscript to a peer-reviewed journal during their third year of training.

Fellows are required to attend the research seminars and the biostatistics course during their first year of training. The faculty and other research mentors teach and guide the fellows in experimental design, data collection and analysis.

The University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville encourages fellow research through the availability of Dean's Fund Research Awards and an annual Research Day held every spring.