TEACRS Program Overview

TEACRS (Training in Education and Critical Research Skills Program) trains the academic biomedical research faculty of the future and enriches opportunities in biomedical education for minority serving institutions. By providing high quality research experiences, coupled with career development skills, this program prepares the most talented young scientists for academic careers. Through a specially-tailored mentoring program, TEACRS trainees complete our program ready to manage a successful research program, teach and balance the multi-faceted demands inherent in a career as an academic scientist. The progress of a typical trainee is diagrammed here; events scheduled for the 2007-2008 academic year can be found here.

Our nation needs university faculty that are prepared to meet the multiple challenges faced by young Assistant Professors pursuing their first independent position. The Chronicle of Higher Education reported in 2000 (June 2 issue) that about one-third of the nation's faculty are 55 years of age or older. Although mandatory retirement is no longer in force, the passage of time, coupled with population increases, will naturally lead to an increased need for faculty in biomedical science. As noted in a recent piece in Nature (435, 850-851, 2005), adjusting to the demands of setting up and managing a productive research lab, obtaining grant funding, developing and presenting the class material that is required in an academic position, and participating in the everyday life of an academic at a university is extremely challenging.

Current postdoctoral training at most institutions focuses largely on providing young scientists with research tools and the body of research work sufficient to launch an independent career. Career satisfaction and retention of the most talented Assistant Professors is vital to maintain excellence in research and for training the next generation of scientists. There is also a need to provide engaging and up-to-date courses in biomedical science at undergraduate institutions with a high enrollment of underrepresented minorities. TEACRS fellows spend 25% of their time devoted to career enrichment and teaching activities, such as grant writing, scientific presentation skills, mentoring of student research projects, and specific instruction and feedback on teaching methods. Opportunities for direct teaching experience in the classroom will be available at two local partner institutions with high minority enrollment: Pine Manor College and the University of Massachusetts, Boston.