In 1980, Vale entered an MD/PhD programme at Stanford University, being supervised by Eric Shooter, where he studied the nerve growth factor receptor (also known as the neurotrophic factor receptor).
Pada 1980, Vale memasuki program MD/PhD di Universitas Stanford, yang dibimbing oleh Eric Shooter, tempat ia mempelajari reseptor faktor pertumbuhan saraf (juga dikenal sebagai reseptor faktor neurotrofik).