Initiated in the Spring of 2008 with funding from the Carle Foundation Hospital, this fellows program provides an opportunity for a scientist to spend several years conducting independent, interdisciplinary, oncology-related translational research before launching her/his formal academic career.
The Carle Foundation Hospital - Beckman Institute Fellow Program is intended for a recent Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. interested in conducting oncology-related research at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology. Possible areas of interest include developing imaging systems for the detection and diagnosis of cancer pathologies; developing nanoparticles as contrast agents and intervention agents to target tumors; and engineering biological materials (e.g., imaging phantoms, microfabricated tissue cultures, and animal models of disease) for molecular imaging investigations of cancer pathologies. The successful candidate will be selected for a term of up to three years. The Carle Foundation Hospital - Beckman Institute Fellow is selected on the basis of their professional promise, capacity for independent work, interdisciplinary interests, and outstanding achievement to date.
The recipient of the Carle Foundation Hospital - Beckman Institute Fellow award is expected to have a recent Ph.D. (received no earlier than December 2008) or an M.D./Ph.D. (with the second of the two degrees received no earlier than December 2008) in an area of research relevant to the Beckman Institute's oncology-related/cancer biology/bioimaging research. The Carle Foundation Hospital - Beckman Institute Fellow is expected to interact with Beckman Institute faculty members who are in their area of research. Collaborative publication is encouraged. Furthermore, a clinical mentor, or mentors, will be identified by the Carle Foundation Hospital to facilitate the clinical/translational aspects of the fellow’s research. The Carle Foundation Hospital - Beckman Institute Fellow is also expected to be capable of doing independent research.
During the term of appointment, there are no teaching or administrative duties required, other than a brief written annual report to the director of the Beckman Institute. The fellow is assigned an office in the Beckman Institute, and is provided with clerical and other staff support, computing resources, and access to facilities necessary to her/his research program. Space also will be provided at Carle to enhance the research and clinical interactions. Because the fellow has no specific administrative or teaching responsibilities during her/his tenure, she/he is able to take maximum advantage of the opportunity to launch a strong research career.
Funding for the Carle Foundation Hospital - Beckman Institute Fellow consists of an initial stipend amounting to $52,000 annually. Each three-year fellowship is awarded up to $20,000 annually to cover:
- Relocation expenses ($2,000 maximum, first year only)
- Health insurance
- Research supplies
- Facility use/service charges
- Equipment
- Training
- Workshops
- Support for interdisciplinary collaborations
- Travel between collaborating institutions
- Travel to scientific/technical meetings
Applications for the 2011 Carle Foundation Hospital - Beckman Institute Fellow Program are no longer being accepted. The announcement of the selected Fellow will be on or about Friday, May 20, 2011.
Current Carle Foundation Hospital – Beckman Institute Fellow
Jongsick Kim
Jongsick earned his Ph.D. at Pittsburgh in Bioengineering. His research focus will be to demonstrate real-time diagnostic MM-OCT technology as a diagnostic imaging modality to an adjunct technology that combines detection/diagnosis with therapy by simply switching parameters of magnetic field. Kim will work with researchers at Illinois to develop and implement hardware and software advances for the MM-OCT system and interpret the OCT results, and with physicians at Carle to perform standard-of-care procedures for surgical treatment and pathological assessment of tumors for the project's patients.
Carle Foundation Hospital – Beckman Institute Fellow Alumni
2008 – Michael Walsh
