The Postdoctoral Academic Career Development (PACD) Program offers an
opportunity for postdoctoral researchers to participate in enhancing the
research culture at predominately undergraduate institutions (PUIs) in the state
of South Carolina. Postdoctoral scholars in the PACD Program seek out
collaborations with PUI faculty based primarily on either common teaching or
research interests, serving as a professional conduit between the two types of
institutions. For the postdoctoral scholar interested in pedagogy, Option I
offers an opportunity to acquire a substantial mentored teaching experience in
conjunction with their primary training in research. For the postdoctoral
scholar seeking to explore the research environment at a PUI, Option II affords
an opportunity to develop skills for incorporating students in a research
project with the potential for increasing interest in pursuing graduate
education. Both PACD options give scholars the valuable experience of
transitioning into a new phase of their professional development.
The underlying hypothesis for the PACD Program is that the fundamentals of
effective teaching/training students are directly applicable to the conduct of
research. The goals of the PACD Program are to (1) provide teaching experience,
increase research competitiveness, and expand career opportunities for the
postdoctoral scholar as they serve as role models for students, (2) promote the
infusion of contemporary research activities into undergraduate science and
mathematics curricula, and (3) enhance research collaborations between faculty
at PUI and research-intensive institutions. Postdoctoral scholars are the ideal
emissaries for achieving these goals.
Participation in the PACD program will necessitate the scholar developing
effective time management skills and being more focused in the experimental
design of their research project. It is anticipated that the scholar’s training
in pedagogical methods will enhance their communication skills, which should
result in more effective seminars and grant proposals on their research
pursuits. Expected outcomes for the postdoctoral scholar will be quantified
based on the number of proposals submitted, peer-reviewed publications,
interviews, and job offers. Impact to the host institution will include greater
emphasis on research methodology in existing courses and/or creation of new
courses emphasizing research.
General inquiries regarding this program should be made to:
Edie C. Goldsmith, PhD
PACD Program Director
Associate Professor
Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy
University of South Carolina
edie.goldsmith@uscmed.sc.edu
Phone: 803-216-3809
Fax: 803-216-3846
Proposals are due to the SC EPSCoR/IDeA Office by close of business, Thursday, March 1, 2012. Please see the solicitation for more specific information, proposal guidelines, and submission processes.
Solicitation:
12-102 - Postdoctoral Academic Career Development Program (pdf)
Effective: January 25, 2012
Cover Sheet:
PACD Cover Sheet (doc)
There will be a postdoctoral fellow workshop held on February 23. This workshop is open to all postdoctoral fellows in South Carolina. Register for the workshop here.