Skip to main content

SkinCeuticals Medical Affairs Fellowship

book_2 Learning Mode: Residential

Pages in this Section

Program Overview

The one-year postdoctoral fellowship will prepare the fellow to become a highly marketable professional in the field of dermocosmetics, which is defined as scientifically developed skincare recommended by health care professionals and distributed in health care outlets worldwide, including pharmacies, drugstores, medi-spas and e-retailers.

SkinCeuticals will fund the fellowship with an educational grant in partnership with MUSC, which will provide teaching and learning opportunities, under the guidance of a fellowship director. SkinCeuticals and MUSC will jointly promote and recruit for the fellowship. The fellow will directly work with SkinCeuticals for a period of one year.

This unique postdoctoral training offers an immersive introduction into the industry, including hands-on experience, network building and an industry-specific education. This experience may provide additional opportunities, such as precepting students to develop the fellow’s academic portfolio, and may lead to participation in the MUSC curriculum, creating/delivering seminars or earning additional certifications.

Training Experience

Designed to build the knowledge, skills, and professional behaviors required for success in the field of dermocosmetics.

Inside the Program

The one-year post-doctoral fellowship is designed to develop the knowledge, skills, and behaviors required for a field-based medical affairs position. A significant portion of the fellowship program is spent with SkinCeuticals gaining hands-on experience regarding the industry and Medical Affairs. The fellowship will prepare candidates for any field-based medical professional position within industry.

  • Build a strong foundational background in the dermatologic therapeutic area and learn how to effectively communicate advanced scientific data on clinical research, disease state awareness, pipeline assets, and therapeutic trends in a fair balanced manner.
  • Work in the field with a Medical Affairs mentor to gain skills in effective communication of scientific data, application of medical strategy, and development of scientific partnerships with practitioners in dermatology.
  • Gain an understanding of Medical Affairs including thought leader (TL) engagement planning, territory management and the art of developing and fostering relationships with critical stakeholders, TLs, Health Care Professionals (HCPs) and institutions.
  • Establish collaborative relationships with internal colleagues in various departments within SkinCeuticals/L’Oréal, as well as external colleagues.
  • Learn medical trends and contribute actively to team projects of high impact to the medical team.
  • Attend and actively participate in relevant scientific and professional meetings, including major medical meetings, SkinCeuticals/L’Oréal Advisory Boards, and peer to peer education.
  • Participate in the review process and discussion strategy for Investigator Initiated Trials (IIT) as well as Company Sponsored Studies (CSS).
  • Creating, updating, and reviewing fair and scientifically balanced responses to unsolicited medical inquiries.
  • Strategically review medical literature to identify educational gaps.

Academic Experience

All fellows receive an affiliate faculty appointment at the MUSC College of Pharmacy. There they will have the opportunity to teach, serve on faculty committees, conduct continuing education programs, participate in various projects, and attend professional development opportunities.

  • Complete Research & Teaching Certificate Program.
  • Participate in the MUSC College of Pharmacy Industrial Pharmacists Organization (IPhO).
  • Complete a one-month drug information rotation at the MUSC Health Drug Information Center.
  • Teach in the College’s Pharmaceutical Industry Elective and other courses.
  • Complete other professional development opportunities.

Your path to training

Discover the key information about application steps and requirements to guide you towards your next step in training.

Eligibility Requirements

All applicants must:

  • Have completed a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), or Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree from an accredited institution before July 1 of the fellowship term
  • Have authorization to work in the United States throughout the duration of the one-year fellowship
  • Have strong verbal and written communication skills
  • Possess a strong interest in pursuing a career within the state biopharmaceutical industry

Fellows are selected on a nationally competitive basis. No visa sponsorship will be provided.

Download Fellowship Brochure

Application Process

This fellowship program is not participating in the Personnel Placement Service (PPS) at the ASHP Mid-year Clinical Meeting.

Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis, so apply early as we are continuously reviewing and considering applications. Only complete applications will be reviewed.

Interviews will be conducted in three rounds, all held virtually.

Applications are now open!

Application Requirements

The following materials are required for application:

  • Letter of intent
  • Letters of recommendation: All applicants must provide three letters of recommendation.
  • Resume or CV: Applicants should include any relevant presentations, publications, or research experience. There are no length requirements.
  • Unofficial transcript

The required application materials can be submitted using the links below:

Recognizing that the choice of a Post-Doctoral Industry Fellowship is an important decision, the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), in conjunction with the Alliance of Industry Fellowship Associates (AIFA), has agreed to extend offers for fellowships no earlier than December 12, 2025.  We see this respect for candidate choice as a common aspect of each of our program’s cultures.

AIFA-Endorsed Timelines and Recommendations Brochure (PDF)

AIFA First Offer Date (PDF)

International Applicants

This program does not provide visa sponsorship. Applicants will only be accepted U.S. citizens or permanent residents with authorization to work in the United States throughout the duration of the one-year fellowship.

Pharmaceutical Industry Fellowships

The MUSC College of Pharmacy partners with leaders in the industry to develop programs and fellowships that advance pharmacy research, practice and scholarship. Charleston, South Carolina, is an emerging biotech hub and, as the state’s leading comprehensive academic medical center, the Medical University of South Carolina offers many opportunities and resources.

Establishing the state’s first industry fellowship in 2021, the MUSC College of Pharmacy and SkinCeuticals, a part of L’Oreal USA’s Active Cosmetics Division, created a landmark partnership as an innovative model in pharmacy.

For more information, contact industryfellowship@musc.edu.

Our Preceptors

Shelby Kolo, Pharm.D.

Assistant Professor

Crystal Yu

Frequently Asked Questions

Charleston, SC

Yes. It is competitive.

Yes, a laptop is provided by SkinCeuticals.

Yes, work-related travel is paid for by SkinCeuticals

All candidates must have unrestricted employment authorization to work in the United States as no visa sponsorship will be provided.

To apply for this position, the applicant must have earned a Pharm.D., Ph.D., or an M.D. from an accredited institution.

Upon completion of the one-month rotation in the MUSC Health DIC, the fellow will demonstrate the following:

  • An understanding of the functions and responsibilities of institutional and academic drug information centers.
  • The ability to utilize contemporary drug information resources efficiently and effectively.
  • The ability to conduct an effective and efficient literature search across multiple secondary databases.
  • The ability to critically evaluate medical literature at a high level.
  • The ability to develop clear and effective drug information responses to requests from health care providers in both verbal and written communication.
  • The ability to effectively communicate with both requesters and other health care providers.

Our fellowship will not be participating in the Personnel Placement Service (PPS) at ASHP Mid-year Clinical Meeting.

industryfellowship@musc.edu