Bridges to the Baccalaureate at Cal State LA

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Abstract/Summary California State University Los Angeles (Cal State LA), East Los Angeles College (ELAC), and Pasadena City College (PCC) propose to deepen their collaboration to establish a T34 Bridge to the Baccalaureate (B2B) Program. It is the mission of the B2B at Cal State LA to develop and make available to top biomedical PhD programs the creativity and intellectual talents of our most motivated URM, disabled, and disadvantaged undergraduates at ELAC and PCC; and to enrich the American biomedical research enterprise through their participation. B2B Trainees will begin their training at ELAC and PCC; seamlessly transfer to and be integrated into the Cal State LA Junior-Senior U-RISE Program to complete the baccalaureate; and excel as they earn the PhD; establish high profile independent research careers; and assume leadership positions in science. We have reverse-engineered a two-year training program from the characteristics of highly successful PhD students at major research universities, hypothesizing that growth into excellence as a PhD student has its roots in the freshman and sophomore experience. Talented freshmen motivated for careers in biomedical research will be supported and nurtured through lower-division majors at PCC and ELAC, coupled with concurrent year-round laboratory research training at Cal State LA, taking advantage of the strengths of each institution: the strong and supportive didactic environment at ELAC and PCC, and the strong undergraduate research tradition at Cal State LA. This powerful combination is designed to increase B2B Trainees’ research skills; enhancing their academic background and achievement; exposing them to a range of biomedical sciences and scientists at all career stages; and integrating them into the broader Southern California biomedical research community. Coupling B2B to U-RISE provides continuity of training effort and enhances Trainees’ post-BS entry into top PhD programs. Through the T34 mechanism we can support year-round multi- year participation in undergraduate research, replacing off-campus part-time work with research participation at Cal State LA. Distributing their time between academics at ELAC/PCC and research training at Cal State LA during the academic year is possible because of the proximity of the three campuses. The B2B at Cal State LA Program is composed of: 1) early and sustained participation in authentic year- round mentored laboratory research; 2) a solid undergraduate curriculum enhanced by supplemental instruction, and by attention to questioning; 3) workshops to enhance the curriculum; 4) improving the Trainees’ scientific writing; 5) participation in an Annual Biomedical Research Retreat; 6) developmental participation in seminars; 7) using support networks to enhance success; and 8) career advisement and career awareness. We have experience, capacity, and achievements in developing minority talent for success in PhD programs. In the past 15 years, 31 B2B alumni have earned the PhD and another 24 B2B alumni are currently PhD students. Through the T34 B2B enhanced training, our three institutions can do significantly better.