The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)
and
The overarching goal of this proposal is to introduce a
paradigm shift into the training of future biomedical scientists while
simultaneously promoting a more culturally balanced professional base. The
MUSC-Claflin IRACDA program draws upon the complementary strengths of a
cutting-edge research training environment at MUSC and an outstanding
undergraduate education environment at Claflin University, a primarily minority
serving institution. The multifaceted design of this program facilitates the
academic career development of MUSC postdoctoral scholars while simultaneously enriching
the biology and chemistry curriculum at Claflin. Specific
measures of success will include publications, grant funding, employment
opportunities, faculty and student evaluations, student matriculation to and
persistence in graduate programs in science, mathematics or engineering, and
evolution of course content and instructional methodologies. The program will be
administered by Drs. Cynthia Wright and Edward Krug at MUSC with oversight by
an Internal Advisory Committee composed of representatives from both MUSC and
MUSC-Claflin IRACDA scholars will spend their first year of support at MUSC
establishing their research projects and acquiring formal instruction in
preparation for their mentored teaching experience. In subsequent years the postdoctoral scholar
will devote 25% of their effort for instructional activities at
The majority of the postdoctoral
scholar’s effort as an IRACDA scholar will be on their research activities, as
the program is founded upon the hypothesis that the skills of an effective
teacher make for a more efficient researcher. Scholars will be encouraged to
pursue career opportunities that maintain a balance of both research and teaching
interests. The MUSC-Claflin IRACDA program
involves a network of mentors to promote all aspects of the scholar’s
professional development. Highlights of both universities are described in the
“Institutional Histories” section.
Applications will be received from
postdoctoral researchers either currently at MUSC or in the process of applying
for a postdoctoral position with an approved research mentor. This program is
only open to individuals who are either a
The complete application will
contain the following:
·
career goals and teaching
philosophy
·
description of current
or anticipated research project
·
prior teaching
activities and/or training received
·
statement of
commitment of 25% effort for mentored teaching activities
·
plans for staying
connected with research activities at MUSC during the teaching externship
o
Letter of support
addressing
·
the applicant’s
potential for an academic career
·
the applicant’s
suitability for the MUSC-Claflin IRACDA Program
·
statement
acknowledging 25% release time for the applicant’s teaching activities
·
mentoring plan for the
applicant
Materials to be received no later than August 17, 2007 by the
following:
Ms. Dodie
Weise
MUSC-Claflin
IRACDA
MUSC-Claflin IRACDA scholars will
be selected by the program directors and Internal Advisory Committee.
Successful individuals will receive one to three years of support pending
satisfactory performance in both teaching and research components of the
training program. Salaries will be awarded at current NRSA stipend levels, plus
fringe benefits according to MUSC policy. Each awardee will also receive
$10,000 for research supplies and $2,000 towards resource user fees. There is
an additional allowance of $2,000 for lab supplies related to curricular development
at
Each awardee will be required to attend the annual join meeting of all
NIGMS-supported IRACDA programs. Separate funds are available to cover
registration, lodging and travel to the annual IRACDA meeting, which currently
encompasses eleven programs.
Within one month of appointment
each postdoctoral scholar will present a 30 minute seminar on their research
interests to the Internal Advisory Committee to establish a baseline of presentation
skills. At the end of support scholars will present an hour long, interview
style seminar to the Program Directors, Internal Advisory Board, Steering
Committee and External Program Reviewer as one measure of impact of the
training program on the scholar’s career development. Objective measures of
programmatic success include number of publications, grant applications, job
interviews, and curricular development outcomes related to the IRACDA scholar’s
teaching at
General inquiries regarding this
program should be made to either:
Cynthia F.
Wright, PhD
Program Director,
MUSC-Claflin IRACDA
Assistant Dean
for Graduate Admissions
Phone: 843-792-2564
Fax: 843-792-6590
E-mail: wrightcf@musc.edu
or
Edward L. Krug, PhD
Associate Program Director, MUSC-Claflin IRACDA
Assistant Dean for Postdoctoral Affairs
Phone:
843-792-1543
Fax: 843-792-0664
E-mail: krugel@musc.edu
The following investigators have
been approved to serve as research mentors. MUSC Faculty not listed may request appointment as a potential research
mentor by submitting a cover letter and current NIH style Biographical Sketch
to the Internal Advisory Committee.
|
NAME, DEGREE, RANK |
ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS
(primary/secondary) |
MAJOR RESEARCH INTERESTS |
|
Narayan Bhat, PhD Professor |
Neurosciences |
MAP kinases in
oligodendrocyte cell signaling |
|
James A. Cook, PhD Professor |
Neurosciences |
signal transduction
pathways in shock |
|
Robert G. Gourdie, PhD Professor |
Cell Biology & Anatomy |
developmental and molecular
biology of cardiac conduction; wound healing |
|
Professor |
Biochemistry &
Molecular Biology |
lipid mediated
signaling and biology |
|
Ayad A. Jaffa, PhD Professor |
Medicine/Endocrinology |
mechanisms of diabetic
vascular and renal disease |
|
Donald R. Menick, PhD Professor |
Medicine/Cardiology |
regulation of gene
expression in cardiac myocytes |
|
Lina M. Obeid, MD Professor |
Medicine/Internal Medicine |
signal transduction in
cellular senescence, lipid signaling in brain biology, cancer, and aging |
|
Kevin L. Schey, PhD Professor |
Cell & Molecular
Pharmacology |
proteomics and protein
structure |
|
Ron See, PhD Professor |
Neurosciences |
neural substrates of
addiction and relapse |
|
Elizabeth Slate, PhD Professor |
Biostatistics,
Bioinformatics and Epidemiology |
Bayesian methods,
statistical computing and methodology |
|
Dennis Watson, PhD Professor |
Pathology & Laboratory
Medicine |
role of Ets transcription
factors in cellular motility |
MUSC is the oldest medical school in the southern
MUSC
encourages research by providing facilities, funds and administrative support. In FY2005 MUSC
faculty received 937 extramural awards totaling more than $180 million. Federal
funds constitute 83% of extramural support, and the National Institutes of
Health (NIH) represent the largest individual sponsor. The most recent NIH data (FY2005)
shows that MUSC’s
MUSC ranks in the top third of medical schools for the
number of NIH-supported training grants (NIH data, FY2005). The institution emphasizes research career
development at all levels, including junior faculty, postdoctoral fellows,
graduate students, health professional students, undergraduate students, and
high school students. Three NIH undergraduate research training grants (2 T35s
and 1 R25) leverage institutional and state funds to support 50-60 research
internships per year at MUSC for baccalaureate students from other institutions.
Three more awards (NIDDK T35, NHLBI T35, and NIDCR T32) support short-term
research experiences for health professional students. The College of Graduate
Studies (COGS) is the academic home of approximately 200 degree-seeking
graduate students on campus. Predoctoral
support includes an NIGMS grant for MUSC’s Medical Scientist Training Program (MD/PhD), and two awards from the US Department of
Education’s program for Graduate Assistantships in Areas of National Need
(GAANN). A National Library of Medicine grant funded in 2002 provides support
for six predoctoral and 2 postdoctoral trainees in the development and
application of methods of computational systems science for connecting genes
with their biochemical, physiological and clinical functions. Sixteen (16)
additional institutional training grants (T32s) support training for
predoctoral students and postdoctoral fellows in areas such as cardiovascular
disease, renal disease, environmental stress signaling, oral health, kidney and
fibrosing disease, substance abuse, aging, biostatistics, and cancer
therapeutics. MUSC has a Clinical Research Curriculum Award (K30) for training
in patient-oriented research. MUSC’s
research training portfolio is complemented by 10 individual NRSAs (F-series),
and 25 individual research career awards (K-series).
Founded in 1869 in
In November of 2005,
To meet the demands
of the biotechnology industry in
Enrollment trends at Claflin and within the
Two of the
University’s professors were named South Carolina Governor’s Professor of the
Year (1996 & 2005). The Initiatives on Historically Black
Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) awarded the National Millennium Award for Excellence in Teaching to two of Claflin’s professors (2002
& 2004). In addition, Dr. Omar
Bagasra, Director of the SC Center for Biotechnology, and Dr. Rebecca
Bullard-Dillard, Chair of the Department of Biology, share the SC Governor’s
Professor of the Year in Scientific Research Award (2006).
BIOL 121 General Biology I - Honors (freshman level) - fall semester.
Description: This is an accelerated Honors introductory lecture-laboratory course in which the unity and diversity of life are studied and the chemistry of life, the cell theory, structure and function, energy transformation through living systems and the mechanisms of heredity and genetic variability are emphasized.
Instructor: Charlease Kelly-Jackson, MAT biology, Instructor of Biology, ckelly@claflin.edu, (803) 535-5090. (Ms. Kelly-Jackson has expertise in both course content as well as educational pedagogy.)
Length of training: full semester lecture and lab.
BIOL 309 Cell Biology (junior level) - fall semester.
Description: A study of ultra structural and macro-molecular organization of cells and tissues,
emphasizing the convergence of structure and function in life phenomena; principles of molecular aggregation and physiochemical organization of cells; energetics, transport, mobility, irritability and homeostatic mechanisms; cell growth and cell division; cell differentiation and transformation; evolutionary potential of cells; origin of multi cellularity; and techniques useful to the study of cell biology.
Instructor:
Dr. Randall Harris, Assistant Professor of Biology, rharris@claflin.edu, (803)
535-5390.
Length of training: 8 weeks lecture & lab.
BIOL 404 Human Physiology (senior level) - spring semester.
Description: A study of integrative physiological processes inherent at all organizational levels which enhance the normal operation of the human body as a single mechanical unit. Consideration will be given to disease and environmental factors that may disrupt the homeostatic operation of the human body.
Instructor: Dr. Edythe Boyer
Jones, Associate Professor of Biology, ejones@claflin.edu,
(803) 535-5223.
Length of training: 8 weeks lecture and lab.
BIOL 451L Biotechnical Methods Laboratory (senior level) - fall semester.
Description: Advanced laboratory course designed to train students in modern biological laboratory techniques necessary for successful careers in science. Topics to be covered include, but are not limited to, advanced laboratory safety, record keeping, data analysis (including computer-generated graphical analysis), technical writing, techniques for protein analysis, techniques for recombinant DNA analysis, techniques in immunochemistry, tissue culture techniques, chromatography techniques, polymerase chain reaction, micromanipulation, DNA sequencing, DNA fingerprinting and spectrophotometry.
Instructor: Dr. Omar Bagasra,
M.D./Ph.D., Professor of Biology and Director of the South Carolina Center for Biotechnology, obagasra@claflin.edu, (803) 535-5253.
Length of training: 8 weeks lab and recitation.
BTEC 501/511 Genetic Engineering I lecture/lab (graduate level) - fall semester.
Description: Molecular biology, recombinant DNA technology, transgenic organisms, cloning vectors, molecular modeling. In the laboratory applications of theoretical concepts taught in BTEC 501 and 502. Allows hands-on integration of diverse Biotechnical applications as a cohesive synthesis to answer research questions via laboratory investigation.
Instructor: Dr. Randall Harris, Assistant Professor of Biology, rharris@claflin.edu, (803) 535-5390.
Length of training: 8 weeks lecture & lab.
BTEC 521 Immunology/Pathobiology (graduate level) BIOL 321 (junior level) - spring semester.
Description: Undergradute students: An introductory course to introduce molecular, cellular and microorganism based mechanism of disease. The syllabus will be divided into three sections: In the first part we will briefly cover the general principles of pathobiology, including; cellular structure, injury, and repair; fluids and electrolytes, and acid-base balance; immunity, inflammation, and infection; stress; and oncogenesis. The influence of the environment and the role of genetics in the development of disease will also be discussed in detail. In the second part we will cover, the various human diseases, examines normal anatomy and physiology, alterations of function in adults, and alterations of function in children. We will discuss the major illnesses that inflict the modern man. We will discuss in detail various molecular diagnostic methods, primers and probes design and modes of rapid detection of various pathogenic agents.
Graduate students will be assigned to cover different illness and present to class as part of their clinical research oriented learning process. These assignments will be given to each of the students by the instructor. They will be required to submit a paper(s) on the subject that will include update information on the illness.
Instructor: Dr. Omar Bagasra
(M.D./Ph.D.), Professor of Biology and Director of the
Length of training: 8 weeks lecture and lab.
CHEM 401 Biochemistry I (senior level) - fall semester.
Description: Material to be covered includes the chemistry of the components of living cells, and the nature and mechanism of cellular reactions. The course begins with coverage of the structures and functions of the most common individual molecules, molecular assemblies and polymers of living organisms – including carbohydrates, proteins (enzymes), lipids, nucleic acids, coenzymes, prosthetic groups, intermediate metabolites and macromolecular conformations. Next, organic and inorganic cofactors, the reaction mechanisms, kinetics and mechanisms of biological catalysis and regulation of some major metabolic pathways are discussed – including glycogen synthesis, glycogen breakdown, gluconeogenesis, glycolysis and the citric acid cycle.
Instructor: Dr. Angela Peters, Associate Professor and
Chair, Department of Chemistry, angela.peters@claflin.edu, (803) 535-5447.
Length of training: 8 weeks
lecture only.