Texas A&M University System Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (TAMUS LSAMP) Bridge to the Doctorate (BTD) Cohort VIII (2012-2014) Program

拟议的第八队列德克萨斯农工大学系统路易斯斯托克斯少数族裔参与联盟（TAMUS LSAMP）博士学位桥梁（BTD）计划的主要目标是增加科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）博士人才库在TAMU代表性不足的少数族裔群体中，并在大学内创建一个有凝聚力的跨学科研究生社区。 总体目标是通过培养他们的准备和鼓励渴望完成STEM博士学位，并准备他们作为跨学科研究和学术界的领导者，来促进首次URM STEM研究生群体的学术成功。因此，执行该计划的目标包括：（1）在NSF BTD计划完成后，保留研究员进入博士课程并提供资金，（2）准备迎接完成研究博士课程的挑战和可能的学术生涯高等教育，以及（3）领导技能的发展必要的成功，作为年轻的URM专业人员后，完成博士课程的研究。这将通过合作来实现德克萨斯农工大学（TAMU）的理学院（COS）、工程学院（COE）和农业与生命科学学院（COALS&）。来自代表性不足的少数民族（URM）群体的12名首次研究生，在COS的5个部门，COE的12名，COALS的14名，将被选为BTD研究员。研究员将被培养两年作为一个cohorted社区受益于学术和个人发展活动和社会支持的计划，以维持他们的承诺和成功，他们的学位课程，并在第二年年底向博士课程的进步。具有不同学科和共同目标的BTD研究员将分享协调的资源和丰富智力的小组活动。除了BTD的智力影响外，该计划还将通过推进研究生和博士STEM学位的追求来加强研究和教育的基础设施。

The primary aim of the proposed Cohort VIII Texas A&M University System Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (TAMUS LSAMP) Bridge to the Doctorate (BTD) program is to increase the pool of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) PhDs among underrepresented minorities groups at TAMU and create a cohesive community of graduate students across different disciplines within the university. The overall goal is to foster academic success in a cohort of first-time URM STEM graduate students, by developing their readiness and encouraging eagerness to complete STEM doctoral degrees and by preparing them to take their places as leaders in interdisciplinary research and in academia. As such, objectives to carry out the program's goals include (1) retention of fellows into doctoral programs with funding after completion of the NSF BTD program, (2) preparation to meet the challenges of completing doctoral programs of study and for possible academic careers in higher education, and (3) leadership skill development necessary to succeed as young URM professionals upon completion of doctoral programs of study.This will be achieved through collaborations among the College of Science (COS), College of Engineering (COE) and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (COALS) at Texas A&M University (TAMU). Twelve first-time graduate students from underrepresented minority (URM) groups, in five departments in the COS, 12 in COE, and 14 in COALS, will be selected as BTD fellows. The Fellows will be nurtured for two years as a cohorted community benefiting from a program of academic and personal development activities and social support, to sustain their commitment and success to their degree programs and advancement toward doctoral programs by the end of their second year. The BTD fellows, with differing disciplines and a common purpose, will share coordinated resources and intellectually enriching group activities. Beyond the intellectual impact of BTD, the program will enhance the infrastructure of research and education by advancing pursuit of graduate and doctoral STEM degrees.