Bridges to the Doctorate at Towson University

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PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT African-American/Black, Indigenous, and Hispanic are among the fastest growing populations in the US but make up only a small percentage of the biomedical research workforce. This disconnect is particularly acute in science and engineering graduate programs where students from underrepresented (UR) groups accounted for just 13.5% of doctoral degrees awarded in 2018. Furthermore, significantly more students from UR groups complete a master’s degree (MS) en route to their doctorate than their non-UR counterparts, identifying MS programs as an important pool from which to recruit PhD candidates from diverse backgrounds. Consistent with these national trends, self-assessments at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (JHUSOM) revealed that just 13% and 17% of doctoral degrees awarded over the past five years were to students from UR groups. In just five years, the Bridges to the Doctorate Program (B2D) program has had a significant impact on the diversity of the MS program in Biological Sciences at Towson University (TU), increasing the representation of students from UR groups from 11% in 2015 to 42% in 2020, mirroring the local demographics (45.3%). 100% of our B2D trainees have graduated with an MS degree. Of the trainees who have graduated, 67% have applied to PhD programs and 83% of those who applied, were offered admission to top doctoral programs including those at UMSOM and JHUSOM. These data highlight the need for programs like B2D that support students from UR groups as they prepare to apply to doctoral programs and succeed in transitioning from MS to PhD programs to complete their doctorate. The TU- UMSOM-JHUSOM B2D will integrate the TU MS program and research resources at the UMSOM and JHUSOM in an innovative curriculum of training and mentoring to meet the following four objectives. 1: To provide trainees with a strong knowledge base in cell and molecular biology, develop analytical thinking, and cultivate science self-efficacy. 2: To train students to independently design and conduct experiments with rigor and to effectively analyze results. 3: To provide trainees with the tools needed to successfully apply to doctoral programs and ultimately earn a PhD. 4: To foster an inclusive, supportive community that promotes student success by providing opportunities for career exploration and peer/professional mentoring. The proximity of TU, UMSOM, and JHUSOM campuses facilitate the collaborative implementation of joint training activities. B2D scholars will be actively recruited from local and national minority-focused training programs and undergraduate institutions through e-marketing, social media, and in-person approaches. The professional development of B2D trainees as they progress from MS to PhD programs and beyond will be tracked as an important metric of program success. All aspects of the B2D will be critically evaluated by systematic program assessment. B2D training will thus enhance diversity in the biomedical workforce.