Evaluation of the postdoctoral faculty fellowship (PFF) program at Boston University from the fellows’ perspective

CHED 333

John R. Miecznikowski, mieczni@bu.edu, Department of Chemistry, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215
In 2002, the Boston University Department of Chemistry initiated the Postdoctoral Faculty Fellowship Program, which provides a two-year, full time appointment in the Chemistry Department for recent Ph.D. graduates who wish to gain experience in teaching chemistry, in addition to pursuing research. Three PFFs have completed the two-year program and have tenure-track positions at undergraduate institutions. A fourth is finishing the second year in the program and three other fellows are finishing their first year in the program. The PFFs are involved in teaching large lecture classes in General Chemistry as well as smaller upper level specialty classes. The fellows' role in teaching undergraduate classes will be evaluated and compared to the role of a graduate student teaching fellow. The benefits of program to both the fellow and the faculty mentors will also be discussed.