Bridges to the Baccalaureate Research Training Program (T34) for racial/ethnic minorities at the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) and the City College of New York (CCNY)

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Project Summary/Abstract Racial/ethnic minority (REM) researchers, who may be uniquely poised to address racial/ethnic disparities in mental and physical health, are underrepresented at all levels of the biomedical and behavioral sciences. Our Manhattan-Bridge program seeks to enhance the number of REM students in biomedical and behavioral sciences research by bridging the path from a minority-serving community college (Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC)) to a baccalaureate degree in a STEM field at a minority-serving senior college (The City College of New York (CCNY)). Manhattan-Bridge includes a coordinated system of faculty mentoring, peer mentoring, peer support, diversity training, STEM coursework, laboratory training, tutoring, and supplemental instruction to address and overcome the obstacles known to impede REM students from success in completing their baccalaureate degrees and launching careers in biomedical fields. Each cohort of ten students will be selected for a two-year education and training period during which we provide trainees with research opportunities at BMCC and CCNY from experts in the biomedical and behavioral science fields to guide development of mentored research projects. Trainees will be provided with conference travel and research funds to facilitate their understanding of the conduct and dissemination of research findings. Key activities include: 1) a Student Success course that examines the ways in which various psychological, societal, cultural, and historical factors impact a transfer student’s academic experiences and outcomes, 2) a Summer Research Training Institute where trainees complete a curriculum focusing on research methodology, practical skills of data analysis, rudiments of neurocognitive research, and academic and clinical research careers, and 3) regular meetings with a) peer mentors, who offer academic guidance and serve as a contact and facilitator to mentees, and b) peer navigators, who support trainees in their social development in the program and assist in addressing common emotional challenges, such as academic stress and poor coping strategies. Objective outcomes include: 1) developing research self-efficacy; 2) attending a national scientific conference; 3) presenting a paper or poster at a local or national conference; 4) application to a fellowship or other training award; 5) author or co-author a scientific journal article; 6) conducting a honors-level research project; 6) successful transfer to a baccalaureate program in the biomedical or behavioral sciences; and 7) successful graduation from the baccalaureate degree.