Program History and Outcomes

​​The objectives of the San Diego IRACDA program are to: 1) provide rigorous training to a diverse group of scholars in biomedical research 2) enhance teaching skills of scholars to enrich the curriculum at our partner institutions (San Diego State University and San Diego City College), and 3) increase the number of underrepresented students from our partner institutions that participate in research at UC San Diego and enter graduate programs in biomedical sciences. 

Since admitting its first trainees in 2003, the San Diego IRACDA program has trained 119 fellows, 65% are from underrepresented groups in STEM and 60% are women. Seven of our fellows have received UC President’s Postdoctoral Fellowships and 9 have received UC San Diego Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellowships. All of our alumni are employed in science and 65% have obtained faculty positions at academic institutions, including 31% in R1 research-intensive institutions, 26% in R2 (teaching and research) institutions, and 9% in teaching-focused institutions. Almost all of our faculty alumni, 90%, are in tenured-track positions, and 61% of faculty have gained extramural funding from various agencies, including the NIH, NSF, USDA, DOD, AHA and National Geographic.

The institutions where our alumni are employed include: Binghamton University; Bradley University; California​ State Dominguez Hills, California State University, Long Beach; California State University, Los Angeles; California State University, Northridge; California Baptist University; City College of New York; Colorado College, Emory University; Hofstra University; Humboldt State University; Keck Graduate Institute; Mesa College; Mount Saint Mary College; National University; Northern Arizona University; Occidental College; Pacific Lutheran University; Palomar College; Pennsylvania State University, Behrend; Pomona College; Roosevelt University; San Diego State University; Santa Barbara City College; St. Jude’s Research Hospital; The Wistar Institute; Texas Christian University; University of Illinois Chicago; University of Memphis, University of Northern Florida; University of North Texas; University of Puget Sound; University of Washington, Tacoma; Westminster College; William Paterson University; West Chester University; University of California, Irvine; University of California, Los Angles; University of California, Santa Cruz; and 6 hold Assistant Professor positions at the University of California, San Diego.

​ SD IRACDA Alumni Obtained Faculty Positions Nationwide