The University of Puerto Rico (Rio Piedras) Bridge-to-the-Doctorate Initiative: Providing Multidisciplinary Training in STEM Disciplines at the Ph.D. Level - Cohort IX)

波多黎各大学(里约热内卢)是路易斯·斯托克斯少数群体参与联盟(PR-LSAMP)的牵头机构，将在2011-2013学年在该机构管理第九(第9)个博士学位(BD)项目。该计划将在博士水平提供科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)学科的多学科培训，以实现从STEM学士学位到STEM研究生课程的无缝过渡，最终获得终端学位并进入STEM劳动力大军。该奖项在2011-2013学年支持了12名STEM研究生，使该联盟自2003年NSFBridge开始到博士活动以来支持的BD研究员总数增加到106人。该计划建立在波多黎各大学(UPR)在几个STEM领域，特别是多学科领域的优势基础上。招生计划涉及针对内地LSAMP学生和香港学生的策略。优秀学生必须被以下UPR博士课程之一录取：生物、化学、化学工程或化学物理。BD研究员将参加与前八个队列一起成功实施的BD支持计划，以加强他们的学术准备。鼓励学生在PR EPSCoR和热带生态研究所(ITES)的国内和国际战略合作伙伴研究中心完成暑期研究实习。该计划继续协调其与其他由NSF资助的由科学与工程资源中心(RCSE)和相关UPR研究生计划管理的项目的活动。在完成BD计划的头两年后，BD研究员申请以下RCSE/UPR计划的奖学金：GK-12、NSF-EPSCoR干扰素、NASA EPSCoR、NASA Space Grant、能源部EPSCoR、CREST-CATEC和RISE。这一庞大的研究和教育项目也受益于招聘的BD研究员，同时他们也促进了博士学位的完成。该项目的实施将发展一个极具竞争力的STEM教育和研究机构，以推动波多黎各？S的经济发展，并满足国家对多样化STEM专业人才的需求。通过增加STEM专业人员的数量，更多的大学生，特别是那些在四年制大学学习的学生，那里最大的第一代大学人口将由博士水平的教授/研究人员教授。此外，前BD研究员成为其他学生的榜样，这些学生来自全国历史上代表性不足的少数群体，他们开始对从事STEM职业感兴趣。

The University of Puerto Rico (Rio Piedras),lead institution for the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (PR-LSAMP), will administer its ninth (9th) Bridge to the Doctorate (BD) Program at the institution during the 2011-2013 academic years. This program will provide multidisciplinary training in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines at the Ph.D. Level to enable a seamless transition from the STEM baccalaureate degree to STEM graduate studies ultimately to obtain a terminal degree and enter the STEM workforce. The award supportstwelve STEM graduate students during the 2011-2013 academic years, increasing to 106the total number of BD fellows supported by this alliance since the start of the NSFBridge to the Doctorate Activity in 2003. The program builds on the strengths developed by the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) in several STEM fields, especially multidisciplinary fields. The recruitment plan involves strategies targeted to mainland LSAMP students as well as students from the territory.Eligible students must be admitted to one of the following UPR PhD programs: Biology,Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or Chemical Physics. BD fellows will participate in the BD Support Program that was successfully implemented with the eight previous cohorts in order to enhance their academicpreparation. Students are encouraged to complete a summer research internship at national and international strategic partner research centers of PR EPSCoR and the Institute of Tropical Ecology (ITES). The program continues to coordinate its activities with other NSF-funded projects that are managed by the Resource Center for Science and Engineering (RCSE) and by pertinent UPR graduate programs.After completing the first two years in the BD program, BD fellows apply for fellowships in the following RCSE/UPR programs: GK-12, NSF-EPSCoR IFN, NASA EPSCoR, NASA Space Grant,DoE EPSCoR, CREST-CATEC, and RISE. This large array of research and educationalprograms also benefit from the recruited BD fellows while they facilitate completion oftheir doctoral degree. A tracking system, designed by PR-LSAMP, documentsparticipant progress, including completion of degree until they enter the workforce, andbeyond.The implementation of the UPR BD Activity develops a highly competitiveSTEM education and research enterprise required to advance Puerto Rico?s economicdevelopment and meets the national need for diverse STEM professionals. Byincreasing the number of STEM professionals, more college students, in particularthose at 4-year colleges, where the largest population of first-generation college will be taught by PhD level professors/researchers. Moreover, the former BD fellows become role models for other students from historically underrepresented minority groups across the Nation, who become interested in pursuing STEM careers.