MUSC - Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) in Cell and Neurobiology Training Grant

Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) in Cell and Neurobiology Training Grant

Thierry Bacro, Ph.D
Associate Professor of Cell Biology and Anatomy
PI and Director

Description

A national shortage of qualified gross anatomy teachers in anatomy departments across the United States has recently been documented by a survey conducted by the American Association of Anatomists. It is believed that this situation will worsen in the next few years and that the need for faculty trained to teach gross anatomy in medical curricula will continue to increase. The aim of this grant funded by the US Department of Education is to prepare PhD students in the biomedical sciences to become faculty who can teach gross anatomy courses, thus providing them with the critically needed teaching skills in this discipline and a potential hiring advantage when seeking an academic position.

Compensation

GAANN fellows will receive a stipend based on the applicant's financial needs as established by the FAFSA form. Based on the cost of living in Charleston and the cost of attendance at MUSC, the average applicant will receive about $26,000 - $27,000 per year (may vary depending on applicant personal circumstances). The stipend rate will start with the first summer gross anatomy course (early June) and will be continued for a period of at least 14 months after completion of the summer course. After this period, the GAANN fellow receives his/her support from the mentor at the prevailing stipend rate and benefits for graduate students. As part of the stipend, the GAANN fellow receives monies for tuition, books, health insurance and fees, and a computer if needed. All these perquisites apply only during the 14 months as a GAANN fellow. For the first two years that a GAANN fellow is in the laboratory his/her mentor will receive a $500/year supply allowance. The financial package for the GAANN fellow is significantly greater than that which is received by first year graduate students. With this financial compensation comes the expectation that the GAANN fellow will fulfill all the didactic and teaching requirements and at the same time work as efficiently as possible in the laboratory and classroom.

Application

The applicant to the GAANN fellowship must first complete the FAFSA form as soon as possible. The applicant must be a US citizen, national or permanent resident. The applicant must also submit a written statement describing his/her career goals and teaching interest. The written statement must be returned via email (bacrotr@musc.edu) no later than 3 weeks after being accepted for graduate school to be eligible for this program.

Selection

GAANN fellows will be selected by the GAANN steering committee based upon the following criteria:

academic merit (from your application and interview)
GRE scores
letters of recommendation provided with your PhD application
previous teaching, research and work experience as stated on your PhD application
potential interest in teaching (written statement)
financial need (as documented by the FAFSA form)
U.S. citizen or permanent resident status

Requirements

GAANN fellows will be required to take the summer Anatomical Basis of Medicine (CELL 610) or Gross and Neuroanatomy (CELL 621) before starting their first year of graduate school and a teaching techniques course (CGS 725: 14 hours of lectures, 2 hrs credit) after the first year of graduate school. The Anatomical Basis of Medicine (8 hrs credit) is taught over an 11 week period during the summer semester. This course includes 90 hours of laboratory dissection and 53 hours of lecture. The Gross and Neuroanatomy (CELL 621) has a content similar to the CELL 610 but is a 9 hrs credit course since it has a few additional hours of laboratories dissection and 10 hours of lectures focusing on the neuroanatomy (does not cover the lower extremity). GAANN fellows must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 and receive at least a 3.0 in the anatomy course (CELL 610 or CELL 621) they choose. Failure to achieve a 3.0 will cause the termination of the fellowship, but will not jeopardize the applicant's standing in the Graduate School. The standing in Graduate School is governed by the same guidelines for all students. Note, also, that taking the gross anatomy course does not support the requirement for the 12 didactic hours past the first year of study (see graduate school bulletin for additional information).

After passing one of the above gross anatomy course(s) described above, the GAANN fellow is also required to serve as a Teaching Assistant for one of the gross anatomy medical courses in the fall semester of their second year. The part of the course he/she agrees to teach as a Teaching Assistant will be determined in coordination with his/her advisor and the steering committee.

In addition, fellows will tutor gross anatomy through the MUSC Center for Academic Excellence for at least one semester. The number of hours they will be able to teach on a weekly basis will be determined in coordination with their advisor and the steering committee. In this case, the tutors will be paid by the Center of Academic Excellence at the prevailing per hour rate for tutoring students.

Finally, the fellows will be required to attend seven teaching modules (2 hours each) focusing on the use of educational technologies in gross anatomy taught by Dr. Thierry Bacro.

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· Description · Compensation · Application · Selection · Requirements	Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) in Cell and Neurobiology Training Grant Thierry Bacro, Ph.D Associate Professor of Cell Biology and Anatomy PI and Director Description A national shortage of qualified gross anatomy teachers in anatomy departments across the United States has recently been documented by a survey conducted by the American Association of Anatomists. It is believed that this situation will worsen in the next few years and that the need for faculty trained to teach gross anatomy in medical curricula will continue to increase. The aim of this grant funded by the US Department of Education is to prepare PhD students in the biomedical sciences to become faculty who can teach gross anatomy courses, thus providing them with the critically needed teaching skills in this discipline and a potential hiring advantage when seeking an academic position. Compensation GAANN fellows will receive a stipend based on the applicant's financial needs as established by the FAFSA form. Based on the cost of living in Charleston and the cost of attendance at MUSC, the average applicant will receive about $26,000 - $27,000 per year (may vary depending on applicant personal circumstances). The stipend rate will start with the first summer gross anatomy course (early June) and will be continued for a period of at least 14 months after completion of the summer course. After this period, the GAANN fellow receives his/her support from the mentor at the prevailing stipend rate and benefits for graduate students. As part of the stipend, the GAANN fellow receives monies for tuition, books, health insurance and fees, and a computer if needed. All these perquisites apply only during the 14 months as a GAANN fellow. For the first two years that a GAANN fellow is in the laboratory his/her mentor will receive a $500/year supply allowance. The financial package for the GAANN fellow is significantly greater than that which is received by first year graduate students. With this financial compensation comes the expectation that the GAANN fellow will fulfill all the didactic and teaching requirements and at the same time work as efficiently as possible in the laboratory and classroom. Application The applicant to the GAANN fellowship must first complete the FAFSA form as soon as possible. The applicant must be a US citizen, national or permanent resident. The applicant must also submit a written statement describing his/her career goals and teaching interest. The written statement must be returned via email (bacrotr@musc.edu) no later than 3 weeks after being accepted for graduate school to be eligible for this program. Selection GAANN fellows will be selected by the GAANN steering committee based upon the following criteria: academic merit (from your application and interview) GRE scores letters of recommendation provided with your PhD application previous teaching, research and work experience as stated on your PhD application potential interest in teaching (written statement) financial need (as documented by the FAFSA form) U.S. citizen or permanent resident status Requirements GAANN fellows will be required to take the summer Anatomical Basis of Medicine (CELL 610) or Gross and Neuroanatomy (CELL 621) before starting their first year of graduate school and a teaching techniques course (CGS 725: 14 hours of lectures, 2 hrs credit) after the first year of graduate school. The Anatomical Basis of Medicine (8 hrs credit) is taught over an 11 week period during the summer semester. This course includes 90 hours of laboratory dissection and 53 hours of lecture. The Gross and Neuroanatomy (CELL 621) has a content similar to the CELL 610 but is a 9 hrs credit course since it has a few additional hours of laboratories dissection and 10 hours of lectures focusing on the neuroanatomy (does not cover the lower extremity). GAANN fellows must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 and receive at least a 3.0 in the anatomy course (CELL 610 or CELL 621) they choose. Failure to achieve a 3.0 will cause the termination of the fellowship, but will not jeopardize the applicant's standing in the Graduate School. The standing in Graduate School is governed by the same guidelines for all students. Note, also, that taking the gross anatomy course does not support the requirement for the 12 didactic hours past the first year of study (see graduate school bulletin for additional information). After passing one of the above gross anatomy course(s) described above, the GAANN fellow is also required to serve as a Teaching Assistant for one of the gross anatomy medical courses in the fall semester of their second year. The part of the course he/she agrees to teach as a Teaching Assistant will be determined in coordination with his/her advisor and the steering committee. In addition, fellows will tutor gross anatomy through the MUSC Center for Academic Excellence for at least one semester. The number of hours they will be able to teach on a weekly basis will be determined in coordination with their advisor and the steering committee. In this case, the tutors will be paid by the Center of Academic Excellence at the prevailing per hour rate for tutoring students. Finally, the fellows will be required to attend seven teaching modules (2 hours each) focusing on the use of educational technologies in gross anatomy taught by Dr. Thierry Bacro.