Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health (BIRCWH)

Faculty Career Development K12 Program in Neurosciences

In 2007, the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) announced the establishment of the BIRCWH Career Development Program. This program supports the research career development of junior faculty members who have recently completed clinical training or postdoctoral fellowships, and who have mentorship and a solid plan for training in Basic Research, Translational Research, Clinical Research, and/or Health Services Research relevant to women's health in all areas of the neurosciences. BIRCWH is a K12 career development program co-funded by the Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH) and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NIHCD), National Institutes of Health.

BIRCWH Applications

Program Overview

The Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health (BIRCWH) Program provides intensive mentored research experiences designed to prepare outstanding junior faculty to become independent investigators in women’s health research.

As part of the BIRCWH program, scholars receive/participate in: 

Didactic material in responsible conduct of research, experimental design, biometry, statistical analysis, research methods, and basic research skills related to neurosciences and women’s health, in order to provide a strong, comprehensive base of relevant knowledge and skills.

Seminars and journal clubs in women’s health research, in order to promote information exchange and interdisciplinary interaction in the context of current findings and new implications.

Ongoing activities providing continuing review and consultation in critical areas such as biostatistical consultation, research ethics, human subject protection and privacy issues, and grantsmanship, in order to ensure continuous learning, sound judgment, and awareness of changing dynamics in scientific research.

Additional opportunities to participate in thematic or topical exchanges with other interdisciplinary research groups at MUSC pertinent to the BIRCWH Scholar’s chosen research interests (such as the Addiction Research Seminar Series and Journal Club, Aging Seminar Series and Journal Club, and Health Disparities Seminar Series) in order to extend BIRCWH Scholars’ interdisciplinary perspective on women’s health research and expand networking opportunities for future collaborations.

A comprehensive evaluation plan utilizing formative and summative techniques as well as formal and informal approaches for reviewing and evaluating both scholar progress and program effectiveness in order to provide outstanding mentoring in research relevant to women’s health.

NIH Career Development Awards (K Kiosk page)