Maryland System Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation 2010-2012 Bridge to the Doctorate - BD Site: University of Maryland-College Park

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

The University System of Maryland (USM) Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP)seeks funding to add a fifth cohort of Bridge to the Doctorate (BD) Fellows to its current retentioninitiatives. The first cohort of BD Fellows matriculated at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County(UMBC) in the fall of 2005. In fall 2006, the second cohort of fellows enrolled at the University ofMaryland, College Park (UMCP). The third cohort enrolled at UMCP in the fall of 2008 and the fourthcohort enrolled at UMBC in the fall of 2009. Since the first BD cohort matriculated at UMBC in 2005,there have been 48 BD Fellows enrolled in STEM graduate programs at UMBC and UMCP. Elevenstudents have completed MS degrees and 37 students are still enrolled.�� INTELLECTUAL MERITThe proposed activity will provide a cohort of 12 students who have participated in LSAMP Programs, asundergraduates, the opportunity to receive substantial funding and other critical support to successfullypursue graduate degrees in diverse STEM fields at one of the nation?s top research universities. Theparticipants also will have opportunities, early in their academic careers, to conduct cutting-edge researchwith top research scientists on the UMCP campus and at national laboratories located in close proximityto the campus. The following will be required of BD fellows:? To participate in community meetings and individual advising meetings;? To apply for the NSF Graduate Student Research Fellowship during the first year;? To serve as role models to current undergraduate LSAMP students in the process of applying forgraduate school;? To present research at national or local conferences;? To participate in the University System of Maryland?s Graduate Research Symposium;? To attend and present posters at the NSF Joint Annual Meeting (JAM);? To present research and serve as mentors at the joint LSAMP/LSAMP-BD Research Symposium;? To participate in various seminars on campus in order to promote professional development andgrowth;? To participate in joint USM BD cohort events such as Summer Success Institute and the HarvestDinner.�� BROADER IMPACTSMany LSAMP students are members of groups that traditionally have been underrepresented in STEMfields. The proposed activity will increase the number of such students in the pipeline to earn doctoraldegrees in these fields. In addition, activities are planned that would provide the participants withinformation about a variety of STEM career options, and help to motivate some of them to prepare forcareers in the professoriate.