Application Requirements
Eligibility
The MCPHS Biopharmaceutical Industry fellows will be selected on a nationally competitive basis. Applicants must have a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from an ACPE accredited college of pharmacy at the commencement of the program.
- Candidates must have strong written and verbal communication skills and a strong interest in pursuing a career within the biopharmaceutical industry.
- All candidates must have authorization to work in the United States throughout the duration of the one or two year fellowship. No visa sponsorship will be provided (i.e., TN, H-1B, STEM OPT, etc.).
Application Procedure
The MCPHS application portal (SMApply) will open up on Monday, October 7, 2024. Applicants must upload the following application materials to the online portal by Monday, November 4, 2024:
- Letter of intent (addressed to the company specific program director/lead; found in each company brochure)
- Curriculum vitae
- Unofficial college transcript
- Contact information for three references. References will receive an electronic recommendation form to complete separately.
Three recommendation evaluation forms must be submitted no later than November 20, 2024 via the online portal. This is NOT a letter of recommendation but an online form that the recommender will receive for completion from SMApply.
Application Review and Interview Timeline
Following a review of submitted applications, pre-screens and preliminary interviews will begin in October. Additional interviews, including final rounds will take place in December during ASHP. Candidates will be notified if selected for an interview. The process is rigorous and competitive; therefore candidates should submit their applications well in advance of posted deadlines as priority will be given to those who apply early.
ASHP Midyear and Onsite Interviews
The fellowship program will be conducting in-person interviews at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting in New Orleans, LA. Attendance is strongly encouraged, but not required. Candidates attending in-person will not be able to interview without registering for both ASHP and PPS. Please refer to the ASHP & PPS website for registration details.
Top candidates may be invited for interviews at the sponsoring company’s location.
AIFA First Offer Date
The choice of a Post-Doctoral Fellowship is an important decision. MCPHS, in conjunction with the Alliance of Industry Fellowship Associates (AIFA), has aligned to extend offers for Fellowships no earlier than December 16, 2024. We believe this is a positive reflection of the cultures our Programs offer, and that culture is a critical consideration in choice of Fellowship. We hope that other academic and non-academic Fellowship Programs will NOT pressure candidates to accept offers prior to this aligned offer date.
We see this respect for candidate choice as a common aspect of each of our Program's cultures. We hope that other academic and non-academic Fellowship Programs will respect this timeline.
Learn more about AIFA affiliated programs.
Onboarding
Final candidates will be required to go through additional screening / onboarding as required by MCPHS.
Academic Requirements
In addition to the responsibilities set forth by our industry partners, MCPHS requires the fellow to fulfill academic-related objectives pertaining to teaching, scholarship, and service. The fellow will be paired with an academic mentor from MCPHS, either from the Boston, Worcester, or Manchester campuses. Please note, the fellow may be asked occasionally to travel to the MCPHS campuses in Worcester (45 miles) or Manchester (53 miles). The academic mentor and fellow will work closely over the 1 or 2-year program to fulfill the requirements listed below. The fellow should anticipate dedicating 10% - 15% of their time to MCPHS-related activities.
Academic Related Objectives
Teaching: Each fellow is required to participate in at least 1 teaching opportunity (didactic, laboratory, experiential) per year.
Scholarship: Each fellow is required to complete at least 1 scholarly activity per year with either their faculty or industry preceptors. Over the 2-year program, it is expected that, at a minimum, 2 scholarship activities are completed. In addition, the fellow is expected to present their scholarship activity and main project(s) at MCPHS showcase/events.
Service: Fellows are required to attend and participate in professional development activities including the MCPHS Conference Series and Professional Development Days, and at least 1 Community Relations Committee (CRC) event per year.
Fellows are encouraged to partake in service-related activities such as:
- Participate in recruitment efforts, professional service, and/or community engagement opportunities. This includes but is not limited to programs organized by the MCPHS Fellows Network (MFN) and/or New England Post Graduate Seminar on Teaching and Learning
- Participate in student organized professional organization events pertaining to post-graduate fellowship training in the biopharmaceutical field.
Benefits
The fellow will receive a competitive stipend and benefits package, including comprehensive health and dental insurance. Attendance at one or more professional meetings, conferences, or workshops will be sponsored by the fellowship program. The fellow may qualify for student loan deferment, allowing for the postponement of loan payments until the completion of the fellowship program. The lender of the student loan(s) will be able to provide specific information regarding eligibility and terms of deferment.
Certificate of Completion
MCPHS and the sponsor company will award a professional certificate upon successful completion of the fellowship program.