T32GM142515

SFSU/UCSF M.S. Bridges to the Doctorate Program

The goal of the Bridges to the Doctorate Research Training Program at San Francisco State University (SFSU) ("Bridge Program") is to develop a diverse pool of scientists earning a Ph.D., who have the skills to successfully transition into careers in the biomedical research workforce.

SFSU and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) have developed a cooperative graduate program to increase the number of under-represented (UR) students that pursue biomedical research careers. This program will provide UR students (primarily biology and biochemistry) with a quality and focused master's degree education at SFSU that prepares them to be competitive for acceptance into top-ranked biomedical science doctoral programs such as UCSF.

The objectives are to:

1) Engage all Bridge trainees in research activities,
2) Provide the scientific literacy to ensure the successful completion of M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in a timely manner, and
3) Ensure the transition of Bridge trainees to Ph.D. programs.

These objectives will be successfully met through the combination of:

(I) Close and careful academic and research advising by peers, preceptors, course instructors, and PDS,
(II) A nurturing and productive research experience with Bridge preceptors,
(III) Registration in two courses ("Strategies for Success" and "Science Coding Immersion Program (SCIP)") that provide professional development to improve quantitative, writing, and oral communication skills while building community, and
(IV) Role modeling from established UR scientists in our formal speaker series.

The M.S. program is divided into 4 semesters, with a unique "Strategies for Success" each semester, and the "SCIP" course in the summer between 1st and 2nd year. The "Strategies" course develops writing and oral communication skills through the development of the IDP, statement of purpose, abstract writing, presentations, and mock interviews. Ph.D. preparation includes informational sessions on Ph.D. programs and Ph.D./career panels led by SFSU alumni. These courses also cover RCR and rigor and reproducibility, over 2 semesters. SCIP develops community through coding lessons, with biologically-relevant data sets.

Over the last 15 years, 175 previously funded M.S. students have completed Ph.D. programs, with another 75 pending (anticipated completion dates between 2021-2025). Over the last 5 years alone, an average of 22.4 students have entered Ph.D. programs yearly, with an average of 3.6 entering UCSF Ph.D. programs (2, 2, 4, 3, and 7 entering from 2016-2020).

This proposal therefore requests funding for 32 MS students (16 first year and 16 second year), to maintain the strong success of the combined NIH Bridge and RISE programs previously in existence at SFSU.

San Francisco State University

THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES (NIGMS) SUPPORTS BASIC RESEARCH THAT INCREASES OUR UNDERSTANDING OF BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES AND LAYS THE FOUNDATION FOR ADVANCES IN DISEASE DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, AND PREVENTION. NIGMS ALSO SUPPORTS RESEARCH IN SPECIFIC CLINICAL AREAS THAT AFFECT MULTIPLE ORGAN SYSTEMS: ANESTHESIOLOGY AND PERI-OPERATIVE PAIN, CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY ?COMMON TO MULTIPLE DRUGS AND TREATMENTS, AND INJURY, CRITICAL ILLNESS, SEPSIS, AND WOUND HEALING.? NIGMS-FUNDED SCIENTISTS INVESTIGATE HOW LIVING SYSTEMS WORK AT A RANGE OF LEVELSFROM MOLECULES AND CELLS TO TISSUES AND ORGANSIN RESEARCH ORGANISMS, HUMANS, AND POPULATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, TO ENSURE THE VITALITY AND CONTINUED PRODUCTIVITY OF THE RESEARCH ENTERPRISE, NIGMS PROVIDES LEADERSHIP IN SUPPORTING THE TRAINING OF THE NEXT GENERATION OF SCIENTISTS, ENHANCING THE DIVERSITY OF THE SCIENTIFIC WORKFORCE, AND DEVELOPING RESEARCH CAPACITY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

93.859 - Biomedical Research and Research Training

National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) [HHS - NIH]

San Francisco, California 941321722 United States

Single Zip Code

National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) Bridges to the Doctorate (T32) (PAR-19-300)