The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs

Current Postdocs

Need help navigating MUSC as a postdoc? Look here.

four people look at a computer screen in a research lab with two of them pointing at the screen

Prospective Postdocs

We are always looking for passionate postdocs. Start your journey here.  

A lightbulb superimposed upon a conference room with people meeting to discuss ideas. Licensed from istock.com

Professional Development

We are committed to setting our postdocs up for success. Here’s how.  

A group of students speak together somewhere outdoors.

Postdoctoral Association

The MUSC Postdoc Association plays a key role in our program. Learn more here.  

Digital life. Front view of young people using different gadgets while sitting close to each other in a row

Life in Charleston

Get a picture of life in Charleston as a Postdoc at MUSC.

Dr. Besim Ogretmen teaching graduate student Alhaji Janneh in the laboratory.

For Faculty and Administrators

MUSC Office of Postdoctoral Affairs seeks to aid mentors and administrators with postdoctoral recruitment, appointment, retention and training.

Welcome from the Assistant Dean

Welcome! The role of the MUSC Office of Postdoctoral Affairs is to be a centralized source of information, resources, and support for all postdoctoral researchers and their mentors on campus.

Our Postdoctoral researchers are highly valued members of our research community. We are committed to ensuring that they have an enriching experience at MUSC and are prepared for the next stage of their careers. We are housed within the College of Graduate Studies in the Bioengineering Building, 68 President Street, Suite 101. For general questions or to join our mailing list, email us at cgs-postdoctoral@musc.edu

Please contact me anytime for assistance by email or in person. I have office hours every Monday, from 3 to 5 p.m., and other times by appointment.

I look forward to working with you,

Laura Kasman, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean for Postdoctoral Affairs
College of Graduate Studies
Bioengineering Building Room 101A
kasmanl@musc.edu

The Dean of the College of Graduate Studies created the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs in October 2005 to better address postdoctoral trainees' unique needs. The initial goals were revitalizing the dormant Postdoctoral Association, evaluating postdoctoral policies and resources, counseling postdoctoral scholars in career development, and serving as representation for MUSC postdoctoral training on the national level.

The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA) consists of the Assistant Dean for Postdoctoral Affairs and the Program Coordinator for Postdoctoral Affairs. The Assistant Dean approves all postdoctoral appointments. All mentors must have Graduate Faculty status. Funding for the OPA comes from the College of Graduate Studies and supports workshops and activities of the MUSC Postdoctoral Association (PDA). The Assistant Dean advises postdocs on career development issues, approaches for resolving conflicts with their mentor, or any general professional or administrative problem.

There are currently 126 postdoctoral trainees at MUSC, 87 as postdoctoral scholars and 39 as NIH postdoctoral fellows, approximately 76 percent of which are US or permanent residents and 24 percent internationals. Gender distribution is 44 percent male and 56 percent female. Of the US postdocs, 14 percent come from underrepresented ethnic or racial groups. Approximately 31 percent of MUSC postdocs are supported by either individual fellowships or NIH T32 training grants.

As South Carolina’s leading biomedical research university, we know that postdocs are critical to our mission to change what's possible in human health. MUSC leads the state of South Carolina in research funding, we’re home to an NCI-accredited Cancer Center, a Clinical and Translational Service Award (CTSA) hub, an NIDDK-funded Digestive Disease Center, four NIH-funded Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE), a robust research infrastructure including a gnotobiotic animal facility, and 6 postdoctoral institutional training grants. Our faculty publish thousands of articles each year, were awarded approximately $300M in research funding in FY2022, and are the home of more than 50 active biomedical startups.

Our postdocs enjoy a generous benefits package, NRSA benchmarked salaries, and numerous career and professional development opportunities to choose from each year. We hope you will explore our faculty's research, core facilities, and open positions.

For more information, or to be matched with funded investigators please fill out our interest form below.

MUSC's pedestrian-friendly campus is located in the heart of Charleston, a destination city known for its historic preservation, arts and music, mild climate and beautiful Atlantic shoreline.

If you are considering MUSC's College of Graduate Studies for postdoctoral training, explore the full range of faculty and research interests, familiarize yourself with the postdoc benefits, and understand the cost of living in the vibrant and dynamic Low-country area of Charleston, South Carolina.