A Research-Intensive Preparation for the Transition to Graduate School: Columbia University's Bridge to the Ph.D. in the Natural Sciences Program

该提案的中心是哥伦比亚大学通往自然科学项目博士学位的桥梁。该计划为来自代表性不足群体的学士后学生提供全职工作，其目标是进入STEM学科的博士课程。该项目的参与者被聘为研究助理，为期两年，同时他们每学期至少要在哥伦比亚大学上一门科学课。在这个项目中，学生们得到了结构化的专业发展和大量的指导。在整个项目期间，学生们在导师的直接监督下进行研究。他们有薪水和一些专业和教育费用的资金。作为哥伦比亚大学的雇员，项目参与者有资格享受大学福利。这个项目的一个有趣的方面是，它是一种风险共担的方式，也就是说，在学生参与项目期间，导师会提供他们工资的30%。这是对学生和导师在研究项目上共同努力的一种激励。该项目是与哥伦比亚大学继续教育学院合作的。这种合作关系为项目中的学生提供了直接进入专业发展研讨会和其他支持服务的机会，这些服务旨在确保他们在哥伦比亚大学的成功学习，并帮助他们最终申请博士课程。该计划的目标是双重的。首先，参与给了学生一个机会来决定研究生学习的严谨性，包括独立研究，是不是他们想要的。其次，对于那些决定在未来攻读博士学位的人来说，这个项目可以帮助他们在自己选择的研究领域成为有竞争力的博士课程申请者。本提案所要求的资金将允许另外七名学生作为下两个桥班的一部分进入该项目。

This proposal is centered on the Columbia University Bridge to the PhD in the Natural Sciences Program. The program provides full-time employment to post-baccalaureate students from underrepresented groups whose objective is to gain admission into a PhD program in a STEM discipline. Participants in the program are hired as research assistants for up to two years while they are enrolled in at least one science class per semester at Columbia. While in the program the students are provided with structured professional development and are heavily mentored. Throughout their time in the program the students conduct research under the direct supervision of their mentors. They are provided a salary and some funds for professional and educational expenses. As employees of Columbia program participants are eligible for university benefits. One interesting aspect of this program is that it is shared-risk in the sense that the mentors of the students provide 30% of their salary while they are in the program. This is an incentive to both the students and the mentors to work together on the research projects. The program is partnered with the Columbia School of Continuing Education. This partnership provides students in the program direct access to professional development workshops and other support services that are designed to ensure a successful time at Columbia and to help with their eventual application to PhD programs. The goal of the program is two-fold. Firstly, participation gives the students an opportunity to decide whether the rigors of graduate study, including independent research, are what they want. Secondly, for those who decide that a PhD is in their future the program helps them to become competitive applicants for selective doctoral programs in their chosen field of study. The funding requested in this proposal will allow an additional seven students to matriculate into the program as part of the next two Bridge cohorts.