MCC Faculty Fellow Application

The MCC Fellows Program is a welcoming, inclusive community of educators committed to teaching undergraduate labs as Course Undergraduate Research Experiences (CURE) with malate dehydrogenase. With ready access to mentors from different types of institutions, professional development opportunities, local collaborators, and all teaching materials (plasmids, protocols, syllabi), this is a community focused on providing research opportunities to our students within the context of the labs we teach. 

Fellows Program Overview: The Malate Dehydrogenase Cures Community Fellows Program provides leadership opportunities for those who have experience teaching MDH CUREs. An MCC Fellow is a special designation for MCC community members who have taken an active role in mentoring and leading aspects of the MCC and is meant to reflect their commitment to the MCC community.  An MCC Fellow will be recognized for their experience as they provide support to those interested in teaching their undergraduate laboratory courses as an MDH CURE. MCC Fellows will become part of a national group of educational leaders working together to provide research opportunities to their students and other members of the MCC community. Fellows may participate in mentoring, providing and advancing resources, and advancing the teaching and learning of MDH CUREs both nationally and locally. Once accepted an MCC Fellow will receive a letter describing their selection and experience leading this community for inclusion in their professional file. 

Eligibility: MCC Fellows may be instructors/faculty of any institution type provided they have taught an MDH CURE and plan (as best as possible) to continue to teach MDH CUREs. MCC Fellows must also have demonstrated some level of Hub or National Group active participation and where possible collaboration/leadership/mentoring within some aspect of the MCC. 

  • Full-time tenure track or term faculty members and lab directors who have taught an MDH CURE and have been involved in regional, virtual or national MCC events.

  • Instructors of all course types (introductory, upper division, interdisciplinary, etc.) and with all levels of experience are encouraged to apply.

  • We particularly encourage applications from those at under-resourced institutions and for those who work with large populations of students from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in higher education.

Timeline: New applicants will be accepted on a rolling basis by the Hub leaders. Hub leaders will review and present to the PI team for final approval. Once approved a formal letter welcoming the MCC Fellows will be sent by the Hub leader to the MCC Fellow and their respective chair/head or Dean if requested by the MCC Fellow.

Awards: MCC Fellows will be given full access to all resources of the MCC website and all hub and national activities:

  • Continued access to individual mentors for professional development.

  • Opportunities to mentor new MCC community members

  • Opportunities to help develop resources

  • Opportunities to lead and give regional and national in-person and virtual workshops and seminars

  • Invitations to virtual and local workshops 

  • Access to all plasmids, protocols, sample syllabi needed to continue to teach labs as an MDH CURE 

  • Membership in a local MCC Hub that will provide support and opportunities to collaborate with other local educators teaching MCC CUREs

  • Access to professional development for graduate TAs or postdoctoral fellows you teach with (if they do not become MCC Fellows)

All MCC Fellows will be sent a letter designating their role in the MCC for their university files. If requested, files can be sent to chairs or administrators.

Application Materials:

A letter of interest, which includes:

  • A description of why you want to be part of the MCC Fellows Community Program and how you would implement/help teach a CURE as part of your teaching load

  • Your experience and interest in protein focused biochemistry, molecular biology or cellular biology

  • Your experience and interest in teaching CUREs, inquiry-based courses, or other active learning pedagogies

  • Your experience in mentoring undergraduate research that would help contribute to the success of this CURE

  • Statement of your philosophy and interest in becoming a mentor to future MCC Fellows

Application Submission (and contact person for questions): Please email your MCC Fellows application to the Hub director listed below for your local area. If you have any questions while working on your application, please contact your Hub director.

Eastern Region Hub: Dr. Amy Springer (aspringer@umass.edu)

Central Region Hub: Dr. Lisa Gentile (lgentile001@csbsju.edu)

Western Region Hub: Dr. Ellis Bell (jbell@sandiego.edu)