This study examined research training characteristics among pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) fellows. A 45-question survey was mailed to all registrants of the 1998 National PEM Fellows' Conference. Descriptions of curricular design and administrative support components, perceived barriers, and subjective stress related to research were obtained. Surveys were returned by 67 of 79 fellows (85%). A total of 92.5% reported didactic instruction relating to research with relatively higher amounts in research design and biostatistics, and lower amounts in electronic review of the literature, applying to the institutional review board, ethics, and applying for grants. The most commonly cited barriers to more active participation in research were inadequate experience, inadequate time, and lack of administrative help. Stress in relationship to research was high (5.1 on a 1-7 Likert scale). PEM fellows report increasing levels of didactic exposure and administrative support for conducting research, however, PEM fellows still report experiencing significant amounts of stress and a number of perceived barriers.