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.

Each fellow is introduced to the Scholarship Oversight Committee for pediatric fellowship programs. This 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. By the end of the first year, fellows must have their project submitted to the IRB and must have applied for funding. The fellows’ research time during the second and third year is dedicated to conducting research projects as proposed. They are expected to 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 research seminars and biostatistics courses made available to them during their training. Biostatistical support is available through the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville Office of Research Affairs. The pediatric infectious disease 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 resident research through the availability of Dean's Fund Research Awards and an annual Research Day held every spring. It is expected that each fellow will write and publish at least one meaningful research project, one review article, one book chapter (if opportunity arises) and one case report or case series.