The goal of the IRACDA at OHSU program is to develop a diverse group of highly trained scientists to become leaders in biomedical research and scholarship. The program is a partnership between Oregon Health and Science University (a top-rated research-intensive institution) and Pacific University (a minority serving predominantly undergraduate institution) to combine a traditional mentored postdoctoral research experience at OHSU with an opportunity to develop academic skills, including teaching, through workshops and mentored teaching assignments at Pacific University. The program will facilitate the progress of postdoctoral candidates toward research and teaching careers in academia.

We recruit and train a diverse pool of postdoctoral scholars in safe and inclusive environments that ensures their successful transition to independent academic research and teaching careers. Scholars are trained in conducting rigorous and reproducible research, as well as scientific teaching principles and evidence-based pedagogy practices.

Program highlights/offerings

• Scholars receive 3 years of: salary support, funds to support teaching activities, and funds to attend the IRACDA meeting and a scientific meeting annually. Scholars also receive one time funds to support workshop attendance.
• Research mentors with training in culturally responsive mentoring
• Experienced and invested teaching mentors
• Personalized training and professional development
• Supportive community
• Individual Development Plan (IDP) that will incorporate a research plan with focus on rigor and reproducibility, as well as a personalized career development plan.

OHSU and Pacific University partnership

The IRACDA postdoctoral training program combines a mentored research-intensive experience at OHSU and mentored teaching training experience at Pacific University, Oregon’s only federally-designated Asian Pacific Islander Serving institution.

• OHSU’s focus is on healing, teaching, and discovery, and is supported by embodiment of our core values: transparency (the foundation upon which trust grows and develops), diversity (building and maintaining a diverse and equitable environment where all can thrive and excel), quality (a commitment to excellence realized by establishing benchmarks and modeling behavior that adheres to those standards), and service excellence (the people we serve do not experience OHSU as an institution, but as a person and our reputation is made and re-made every day, one encounter at a time).
• Pacific University’s mission is to create and provide a diverse and sustainable community dedicated to discovery and excellence in teaching, scholarship, and practice. Pacific University inspires students to think, care, create, pursue justice in our world. Pacific University achieves excellence and distinction by investing in exceptional people, embracing a rich diversity of ideas, peoples, and cultures, and fostering supportive environments. Pacific University places a strong emphasis on public service, and helps to develop graduates who contribute to the community and beyond.

Training with the IRACDA OHSU and Pacific University team offers teaching opportunities and constructive feedback for Scholars from experienced and invested research and teaching mentors. Scholars will receive evidence-based research mentoring from faculty at OHSU and teaching training from faculty at Pacific University that have received numerous accolades and awards for their demonstrated excellence in STEM research and education. The shared values between OHSU and Pacific University make for a strong partnership in meeting the overarching goal of IRACDA programs for providing safe and inclusive training environments to ensure the transition of diverse biomedical scientists into independent academic careers, thereby increasing the diversity of academic faculty.