Welcome to the PennPORT IRACDA Program

The PennPORT IRACDA training grant currently has NIH funding through July 2028. The application portal for fall 2026 is now closed. Questions about the admissions process can be referred to pennport@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.   

Penn - Postdoctoral Opportunities in Research and Teaching (PennPORT), an NIH sponsored, Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award (IRACDA) postdoctoral fellowship is supported by the NIH division of NIGMS. The program has been in existence since 2007. 

 

The PennPORT program combines a traditional mentored postdoctoral research experience at the University of Pennsylvania with a mentored teaching experience at a partnering institution. The Program is designed to provide an opportunity for postdoctoral appointees to develop their teaching skills. An integral part of the program is formal instruction in pedagogical methods from the University of Pennsylvania Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Innovation. Postdocs also take advantage of the many research and career success skills training programs provided by Biomedical Postdoctoral Programs (BPP).

 

The partnering institutions are Delaware County Community College, Lincoln University and Rutgers University Camden Campus. All institutions are in the Philadelphia locality. The PennPORT program is intended to enhance research-oriented teaching at partner institutions, foster collaboration in research and teaching between the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania and that of partner institutions, and encourage undergraduates to enter a career in biomedical research. 

 

The tenure of the fellowship is three years. In addition to providing salary support at Penn-mandated levels, the program provides health benefits, support for teaching supplies, course development, and travel to two professional meetings, one being the IRACDA annual conference. 

Recent & Upcoming Events

• Strategic Evaluations, Inc. presented a workshop on Essentials of Program Evaluation on Jan. 10th. This workshop provided an introduction to program evaluation principles and best practices for STEM. Participants gained increased knowledge of how to strategically incorporate rigorous evaluation methods into their program planning. Key topics included: Evaluation Basics, Understanding Logic Models, IRB Considerations, and Instrument Design Strategies & much more!

• Applications for the spring 2026 session of “Preparing for College Teaching in STEM” is now closed. For more information regarding applying for the next session, please reach out to pennport@pennmedicine.upenn.edu. 

PennPORT Scholar Spotlight Featuring Tess Cherlin

I am a postdoctoral fellow studying women's health genomics and teaching students to fall in love with biology and bioinformatics. My research in the Setia-Verma lab focuses on how DNA mutations contribute to conditions affecting women across their lifespans, like polyendocrine metabolic ovary syndrome (PMOS), premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and cardiovascular disease. Alongside my research, I am passionate about engaging students in authentic research experiences that activate their inner scientist and foster belonging in STEM. For example, in Facts of Life (Biology for non-majors) at Rutgers-Camden, students completed an "Interview a Scientist" project to experience what being a real scientist is like. In Introduction to Bioinformatics at Lincoln University, students engaged in semester-long research projects and presented their work as posters at a student symposium. Beyond providing incredible pedagogical training, mentorship, and cohort camaraderie, PennPORT opened doors I hadn’t expected. I joined fellow sholars in developing a workshop for the inaugural Mid-Atlantic Faculty Teaching Alliance Symposium, which led to a publication in the National Teaching and Learning Forum. I also became actively involved in the Genomics Education Partnership, a community of educators dedicated to democratizing genomics and bioinformatics research for students. In my independent career, I plan to build on the foundation I developed at Penn by developing a course-based, outreach-facing research program that integrates research and teaching by providing students with cutting-edge, authentic research experiences that improve lives. Now I just need the right role to make it happen!