Not so long ago, PhD-trained scientists eager to explore careers in science education rather than traditional tracks into research and academe trod an uncertain path. Today they need look no further than the three-year Curriculum Fellows Program at HMS, perhaps the first graduate-level program centered solely on education and its best practices.
The seed of the idea for the program took root in 2003, when Randall King, an associate professor of cell biology, needed an extra set of hands to help him revamp a course in cell biology and biochemistry for medical students at HMS. The ideal person, he realized, would have PhD training, grounding in basic science and a deep interest in education. He found her in a recent Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS) Program graduate, Jennifer Stanford.
The success of that experiment led Professor of Cell Biology David Van Vactor to propose a pilot program in 2006 to help train a new generation of teachers and leaders in science education. The HMS Dean’s Office and the preclinical departments, which would benefit from fellows’ efforts, agreed to provide crucial support.
Today, Van Vactor directs a program in full flower. The original six alumni have gone on to teaching and curriculum development positions, he said—serving, for example, as a lecturer in biology at Tufts University, as an education outreach coordinator in science, technology, engineering and mathematics at Johns Hopkins University, and as director of Science Alliance, an education and training program at the New York Academy of Sciences.
“This is a special niche for postdoc training for someone who really wants to focus on pedagogy,” said Van Vactor, who has directed BBS since 2007. “It was unclear whether this novel approach would lead to an effective career development platform, but we saw our first fellows get good jobs that matched their career direction.”
Today, with a funding stream augmented by HMS graduate programs and HMS affiliates, curriculum fellows partner with faculty to develop new courses, design materials, plan symposia, seminars and journal clubs, and write training grant applications. One example of their lasting impact upon HMS is the six-hour, multi-part nanocourse, which focuses sharply on a single topic, such as gene targeting strategies and techniques.
“It’s like HMS having an education lab,” said King. “The fellows interact, act as a bridge across departments, and have really innovative ideas.” Though their expertise differs widely, curriculum fellows share a sense of community, King said. He credits CFP Associate Director Johanna Gutlerner and the second postdoc-turned-curriculum fellow, Meg Bentley, for propelling the group into a solid alliance of scholars.
All curriculum fellows gain valuable teaching experience and credentials. At first, King said, they mainly supported BBS core courses. Now they are gearing up for Phase II, in which their training will be more structured and expand beyond BBS. The fellows will forge collaborations across Harvard, including the public health and extension schools. They will also partner with institutions such as Brandeis and Framingham State, teaching undergraduates and in some cases directing their own courses.
Said King: “In Phase II, we’re asking: Can we become a leader in training faculty who are going to teach in a wide variety of scientific environments across the country?”
According to Dean for Graduate Education David Golan, who has mentored fellows himself, science is always changing, and HMS must remain on the cutting edge. “In formalizing the CFP, we’re creating an optimal training program for fellows while at the same time serving the School’s needs.”
Jennifer Stanford embodies the program’s mission. After wrapping up her Curriculum Fellowship in 2008, she became an assistant teaching professor in the Department of Biology at Drexel University, in Philadelphia. The role suits her perfectly, she said.
“The opportunities to explore and get involved in teaching and curriculum design, to work with talented educators and some of the world’s best research scientists,” Stanford said, “was a privilege that shaped my career.”
For information, visit curriculumfellows.hms.harvard.edu. Interested students may contact David Van Vactor at davie_vanvactor@hms.harvard.edu.
