Postdocs at the Head of the Class

Author | Kara Gavin

They're at two different ends of the higher-education journey: some just starting their pursuit of associate degrees, the others finishing their advanced training after earning a doctorate in biomedical science. Through programs across the country, including a new one led by U-M, they can come together for science and engineering education. At the same time, the programs aim to increase diversity in the population seeking scientific careers, and help young scientists gain marketable new skills. 

Called Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award (IRACDA) programs, the university/community college partnerships focus on postdoctoral fellows who have finished their scientific Ph.D. and are nearly ready to go out on the job market. For the new program, Henry Ford College and the Wayne County Community College District allow U-M Medical School and College of Engineering postdoctoral fellows to co-teach in their classrooms, working alongside their faculty. 

"For any postdoctoral fellow, having extra training in teaching skills gives them a leg up as they go on the job market," explains Bishr Omary, M.D., Ph.D., the H. Marvin Pollard Professor of Gastroenterology in the Department of Internal Medicine, chair of the Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology and one of the leaders of the effort at U-M. Omary also is Michigan Medicine's new chief scientific officer and executive vice dean for research. 

The postdocs, who specialize in physiology and biomedical engineering, hone their teaching skills with the help of partner college faculty mentors over the course of four years. Meanwhile, the associate degree students receive team-based teaching from the U-M postdoc and the partner college's faculty member in their engineering and science classes. 

The program aims in part to address a longstanding lack of diversity in scientific careers. Both of U-M's partner colleges have a high percentage of students from backgrounds underrepresented in science. Some of the U-M postdoctoral fellows chosen for the program also will be from similar backgrounds; all those chosen will be committed to careers working with such students. 

The program builds on initial seed funding provided by U-M for a pilot program at the two local colleges. Through new federal funding of $3.64 million over five years from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, U-M will be able to select three postdocs each year for a four-year stint.


More Articles About: Education higher education postdocs outreach Research and Academic Career Development Award
Featured News & Stories Minding Memory with a microphone and a shadow of a microphone on a blue background
Minding Memory
Racial Disparities in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
In this episode of Minding Memory, Matt & Donovan speak with Dr. Lisa Barnes, the Alla V. and Solomon Jesmer Professor of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Neurological Sciences and Associate-Director of the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center at Rush University. Dr. Barnes talks with Matt & Donovan about racial disparities in Alzheimer’s disease dementia and several obstacles that have impeded our understanding of race and dementia.
three pharmacists smiling
Health Lab
An innovative pharmacy service for pain management
An innovative service at Michigan Medicine offers pain management support for patients and care teams
man in scrubs sitting with scrub cap with headset on in clinical setting
Health Lab
Medical students use virtual reality to improve diabetes
A physician invents a creative approach for medical students in diabetic care.
graphic drawing of colonoscopy scan with large intestine vials patient on bed doctor
Health Lab
Investment in free follow up colonoscopies will pay off
Free colonoscopies for people whose at-home stool tests (such as Cologuard and FIT) turn up signs of potential cancer are now covered by insurance, and a study shows this will save money.
Health Lab
How bedside musicians helped one family cope with tragedy
How the gifts of art and beside music and art programs helped one family cope with tragedy
pill bottle spilling yellow blue
Health Lab
Oral steroid usage increased across U.S., Taiwan and Denmark in past decade
Research from the University of Michigan finds that over the past decade, there has been a steady increase of oral steroids prescriptions not only in the United States, but in Taiwan and Denmark as well.