T32 PIRE Didactic Training

Postdoctoral Education

Both the MUSC Foundation for Research Development (FRD) and the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) serve as partners for the faculty, staff, and trainees, as well as local and regional entrepreneurs who are exploring new ventures based on MUSC technologies. The Microbiology & Immunology Program has a long history of entrepreneurial activity. Trainees will gain an understanding of research development from the intellectual property perspective, including patenting and licensing, startup guidelines, and funding resources. The following required curriculum will provide skills necessary for trainees to succeed in competitive science careers, whether in academia, biomedical industry or business.

Entrepreneurship Course for Trainees in the Biomedical Sciences

Established by a Career Guidance Training Award from Burroughs Welcome Fund, this course is offered via a web-based portal. Modules will be used as a foundation for a certificate program available to students, postdocs, and faculty at MUSC and will be required for PIRE fellows.

Biomedical Commercialization (CGS-729)

All PIRE fellows will take this course, which is co-taught by faculty from MUSC and the College of Charleston’s School of Business. Offered semi-annually to MUSC students and fellows and College of Charleston business majors, this 3-credit hour course resulted from an NSF-funded Partnerships for Innovation award. Topics include industry analysis, competitive advantage, market segmentation and targeting, fixed and variable costs, debt, equity, cash flow, and the basics of business plan construction.

Experiential Training: FRD Internship (Encouraged)

As a “capstone experience,” PIRE fellows will be encouraged to do an internship with MUSC’s technology transfer office, the Foundation for Research Development (FRD). The internship will comprise on average 6 to 8 hours/week for a 3-month period (does not necessarily require on-site presence), Each fellow will engage in developing a commercial feasibility assessment of a technology in a field relevant to their scope of research