ESSCC Training Program

Environmental Stress Signaling and Cellular Consequences (ESSCC) result from exposure to environmental xenobiotics, drugs, oxidants, radiation, ischemia/reperfusion, and nutritional imbalances.  Despite the diversity of environmental stresses, there is a commonality in the responses of numerous cell types to these insults.  Because environmentally and/or xenobiotically mediated diseases and the majority of other diseases incorporate cell injury, death, carcinogenesis, and a diminished capacity for cellular repair and regeneration in their pathology, the need for scientists trained in ESSCC is critical.  The objective of the ESSCC Training Program is to train new scientists to address mechanisms of ESSCC and to translate their findings into the development of interventions or novel therapeutics that prevent or diminish cell injury, death and carcinogenesis, and/or promote repair and regeneration.  In addition, new scientists entering this area of research will be able to use recently developed genomic, proteomic, and bioinformatic technologies to elucidate mechanisms of ESSCC. 

Trainees in the ESSCC program come from various backgrounds that encompass chemical, physical, and biomedical sciences and are integrated into the interdepartmental didactic and research ESSCC Training Program.  The training afforded by the ESSCC Program will result in new scientists that address the consequences of exposures to environmental xenobiotics.  The primary principle uniting the mentors of the ESSCC Training Program is the universal role of environmental stress signaling and cellular consequences in environmentally and xenobiotically mediated diseases and other diverse diseases, and the belief that cells from different organ systems exhibit many common responses to diverse insults and stresses. 
 

Overall Description of the Training Program

Training consists of unique didactic and research experiences supplemented with retreats, symposia, and student organized journal clubs.  The common First Year Curriculum emphasizes theoretical as well as practical approaches to scientific research.  As a measure of distinction from other graduate programs at MUSC, during their second year of graduate studies, ESSCC students complete four specialization courses that form the foundation of the ESSCC Training Program.  Support for each trainee is provided by MUSC during the student's first 14 months in the First Year Curriculum.  Students are eligible to apply for admission to the ESSC Program after their successful completion of the First Year Curriculum.  Criteria for ESSCC admission include letters of reference, academic performance, GRE scores, research focus, and a personal account of the student's desire for training in ESSCC.  Admission into the ESSCC Program is determined by the ESSCC Program Advisory Committee.  Using the same criteria for admission into the ESSCC Training Program, the ESSCC Program Advisory Committee will identify the top two candidates who will be placed on the ESSCC Training Grant.  Students will be eligible for 2 years of support on the training grant after admission into the ESSCC Program and subsequent to the 14 months of MUSC support.  The second year of funding is subject to approval of the ESSCC Program Advisory Committee.
 

Additional Training and Student Enrichment

In addition to the didactic education and research activities required of predoctoral students in the ESSCC Program, extracurricular activities chosen to enhance students' communication skills and the cohesiveness of the Program participants are required.
 

• Each student presents a one-hour seminar as part of a yearly student seminar series.  The student seminar series is integrated into the Spring semester of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and ESSCC regular seminar series and is open to students and faculty from all MUSC departments.

• For the past 38 years MUSC has held an annual Student Research Day, which showcases research conducted on campus.  The event provides students with a forum to make oral and poster presentations in an environment similar to that of a regional or national meeting.  Each presentation is judged by a faculty committee and, in each section, first and second place monetary awards are given.  Students in the ESSCC Training Program are required to present a poster or talk each year in the Student Research Day.

• A weekly seminar series organized by the faculty and students in the ESSCC Training Program runs during the Fall and Spring semesters as part of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences regular seminar series.  The first few weeks of the Fall semester series are reserved for presentations by students as part of their oral examination.  Students also meet as a group and select at least two outside speakers and a student representative works with the ESSCC seminar series faculty coordinator to invite the two speakers, whom the students host.

• There is an ESSCC retreat each May involving students, postdoctoral fellows, and Program faculty.  This meeting is the evolution of an annual meeting held at MUSC on Metabolism and Transport of Xenobiotic and Endogenous Molecules.  The meeting also will include an outside world-renowned speaker as a plenary lecturer and the External Advisory Committee will participate in those years in which they are present to evaluate the ESSCC Program.  Students will present their research at the meeting.

• Each student is required to participate in a yearly national scientific meeting by presenting a poster or talk.

• Students are required to attend the ESSCC Journal Club, which meets weekly on Mondays at 4pm.  The weekly ESSCC Journal Club has been active for the past two years and attracts several other Program faculty from other departments.  Students who initially enter the program, and their advisors, are required to participate in this journal club.

To apply to the ESSCC program students currently enrolled in the MUSC College of Graduate Studies should contact the Graduate Office for more details.  Students wishing to apply directly to the ESSCC Program should contact Dr. Rick G. Schnellmann at 843-792-3118 for more information.