Biomedical Sciences Blog

PENN- Postdoctoral Opportunities in Research and Teaching (PENN-PORT) ,is a NIH sponsored, Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award (IRACDA) postdoctoral fellowship, supported by the NIH division of Minority Opportunities in Research (MORE) at NIGMS awarded August 2007.

The NIH sponsored PENN-PORT program combines a traditional mentored postdoctoral research experience at the University of Pennsylvania with a mentored teaching experience at a partnering institution. The Program is designed to provide an opportunity for postdoctoral appointees to develop their teaching skills. An integral part of the program is formal instruction in pedagogical methods from the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania. Postdocs will also be able to take advantage of the many research and career success skills training programs provided by Biomedical Postdoctoral Programs (BPP).

The partnering institutions are Delaware County Community College, Lincoln University and Rutgers University Camden Campus. All institutions are minority serving institutions in the Philadelphia locality. The PENN-PORT program is intended to enhance research-oriented teaching at partner institutions, foster collaboration in research and teaching between the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania and that of partner minority-serving institutions, and encourage undergraduates to enter a career in biomedical research. Since we wish to provide role models for the undergraduates at our partner institutions, candidates from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

Eligible postdocs must provide proof of a doctoral degree and must be U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents. We provide health benefits , stipend, support for research and teaching supplies, course development, and travel to attend two professional meetings, one being the IRACDA annual conference. The tenure for each fellowship is three years.

PENN-PORT Program Eligibility:

All postdocs must provide proof of a doctoral degree having a qualified Ph.D., M.D. or equivalent, and must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident. Preference is given to final year Ph.D. candidates and recent Ph.D. graduates with no previous postdoc experience.

Benefits and Stipend:
Fellowship stipends will be competitive with federal guidelines as set by the National Institute of Health (NIH), with annual increases as allowed by these guidelines. All medical benefits provided by the following insurance policies for all postdoctoral fellows http://www.garnett-powers.com/upenn/

Finding a Mentor:
Applicants do not need a mentor at the time of completing the PENN-PORT application. PENN-PORT applicants can identfiy potential research labs based on their graduate training, research interests and specific career goals, as traditional postdocs do. However, all applicants should include three faculty of interest on their application. To find research faculty and review their research interests please visit: http://www.med.upenn.edu/bgs/

All application documents can be submitted electronically to:
Dr. Yvonne Paterson, Director, PENN-PORT Program
yvonne@mail.med.upenn.edu

A complete PENN-PORT application packet includes:

• PENN-PORT IRACDA application form (including three faculty of interest)
• A copy of your curriculum vitae
• A personal statement (describing career goals and experiences,highlighting your interest in a career in academia, and working with undereprsented minorities)
• Three letters of reference (most circumstances one letter should be from your Ph.D. mentor)

We are currently accepting applications for Fall 2010.

Click the link below to retreive the application:

IRACDA Application Form

All letters of reference should be addressed to:

Yvonne Paterson, Ph.D.
Director,PENN-PORT Program
Department of Microbiology
323A Johnson Pavilion, 3610 Hamilton Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6076

PENN-PORT Interview Process:

Upon the receipt of all documents, individuals of interest will be contacted to arrange an interview. During your interview you will meet with faculty of interest, current postdocs, and our program director. In addition, you will be asked to give a short seminar on your current research.

For more information please contact the PENN-PORT office directly at 215-573-4332

# posted by BIOENGINE @ 8:41 PM