Bridge to the Doctoral Degree: University of Puerto Rico to University of Medicin

6.项目总结/摘要 该提案旨在更新 通往博士学位的桥梁：UPR到UMDNJ，它一直在协助 代表性不足的少数民族（URM）研究生从硕士过渡。生物学课程 在波多黎各大学马亚格兹校区（UPR-M）攻读博士学位。分子生物学专业 生物科学在UMDNJ-生物医学科学研究生院（GSBS），皮斯卡特维校区，联合提供 与罗格斯大学，新泽西的州立大学（RU）。的ms在UPR-M的生物学课程中有一名学生 人口主要是波多黎各人，但该计划不提供博士学位。为学生准备 作为生物医学科学的高级研究员。然而，UPR-M长期以来一直在生产 优秀的博士候选人在其他机构，包括在UMDNJ-GSBS，皮斯卡特维，和RU。到 促进MS的过渡。在UPR-M的候选人，这个为期3年的计划成立，包括一个 在UPR-M的一年课程工作，随后在UMDNJ的2年课程工作和研究。学生 完成这个桥梁程序接收MS。获得普遍定期审议的学位，并以先进的地位被录取 读博士UMDNJ GSBS的项目，与现有的UMDNJ罗格斯大学管道接口 计划（IMSD奖），支持URM博士候选人。在他们学习的最初几年。现在在 第九年，我们招收了19名学生参加该计划。其中，3人已完成博士学位，和9是 向多发性硬化症发展或博士度在9名继续就读的学生中，1名在普审中，8名在 UMDNJ，包括4个现在在论文研究的高级水平和4个在资格预审阶段。 在该计划的8年中，7名学生在前3年的学习中离开了该计划：其中1名是在 博士学位在其他地方，2人进入了PR医学院，1人正在攻读硕士学位。在普遍定期审议-M，2人是技术性的 一个是科学家，另一个是科学家。没有人离开过生物医学科学。我们继续 修改程序，以处理招聘和选择适当的学生，准备在 UPR-M，从UPR-M转移到UMDNJ期间的适应，以及UMDNJ的程序灵活性。基于 关于桥梁学生的成功率增加，他们在UMDNJ的第一次研究经验先于M.S. UPR-M的课程作业，我们建议在UMDNJ以及个人进行最初的夏季研究 研究在UPR-M程序的组成部分。该计划继续增加机会， 有才华的波多黎各学生在UPR-M，并增加URM学生在博士学位的数量。程序 UMDNJ和罗格斯大学，从而扩大了学生进入生物医学研究职业的范围， 博士水平，并在UMDNJ和RU为URM学生创造一个更有利的环境。7.项目叙述 在生物医学科学领域，全国缺乏代表性不足的少数民族科学家， NIGMS MORE办公室博士学位课程的桥梁旨在通过使少数民族能够 M.S.从少数民族学校的候选人晋升为博士。伙伴大学的候选资格。这 建议使MS。在波多黎各大学马亚涅斯校区的生物学候选人录取 读博士新泽西医学和牙科大学的分子生物科学课程- 生物医学科学研究生院，皮斯卡特维校区。这一方案和其他此类方案应 增加美国生物医学科学劳动力的多样性。更多样化的群体 博士学位-美国的高水平科学家应该为未来更多样化的受训者提供榜样， 促进对少数民族社区特别关注的健康问题的研究。

6. Project Summary/Abstract This proposal seeks to renew the Bridge to the Doctoral Degree: UPR to UMDNJ, which has been assisting underrepresented minority (URM) graduate students in making the transition from the M.S. Program in Biology at the University of Puerto Rico-Mayag¿ez Campus (UPR-M) into the Ph.D. Programs in the Molecular Biosciences at UMDNJ-Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS), Piscataway Campus, offered jointly with Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (RU). The M.S. in Biology Program at UPR-M has a student population that is predominantly Puerto Rican, but the Program does not offer a Ph.D. to prepare students for careers as senior investigators in the biomedical sciences. However, UPR-M has a long record of producing excellent candidates for the Ph.D. at other institutions, including at UMDNJ-GSBS, Piscataway, and RU. To facilitate the transition of M.S. candidates at UPR-M, this 3-year Program was established, consisting of one year of course work at UPR-M, followed by 2 years of course work and research at UMDNJ. Students completing this Bridge program receive the M.S. degree from UPR and are admitted with advanced standing into the Ph.D. programs at UMDNJ-GSBS, interfacing with the existing UMDNJ-Rutgers University Pipeline Program (IMSD Award), which supports URM candidates for the Ph.D. in their initial years of study. Now in the 9th year, we have enrolled 19 students in the program. Of these, 3 have completed the Ph.D., and 9 are progressing toward the M.S. or Ph.D. degrees. Among the 9 continuing students, 1 is at UPR-M and 8 are at UMDNJ, including 4 now at an advanced level of thesis research and 4 at the pre-qualifying exam phase. During the 8 years of the program, 7 students left the program during their first 3 years of study: 1 of these is in a Ph.D. program elsewhere, 2 entered medical school in PR, 1 is pursuing the M.S. at UPR-M, 2 are technical scientists and one is seeking scientific employment. None have left the biomedical sciences. We continue to modify the program to deal with issues of recruitment and selection of appropriate students, preparation at UPR-M, acclimatization during the transfer from UPR-M to UMDNJ, and program flexibility at UMDNJ. Based on the increased success rate of bridge students whose first research experience at UMDNJ preceded M.S. coursework at UPR-M, we propose to make an initial summer of research at UMDNJ as well as individual research at UPR-M integral parts of the program. This program continues to increase opportunities for talented Puerto Rican students at UPR-M, and to increase the number of URM students in the Ph.D. program of UMDNJ and Rutgers, thereby expanding the range of students entering biomedical research careers at the Ph.D. level, and creating a more nurturing environment for URM students at UMDNJ and RU. 7. Project Narrative There is a national shortage of underrepresented minority scientists in the biomedical sciences, which the Bridges to the Doctorate Program of the MORE Office of NIGMS was designed to address by enabling minority M.S. candidates from minority-serving schools to progress to Ph.D. candidacy at partner universities. This proposal enables M.S. candidates in Biology at University of Puerto Rico-Mayag¿ez Campus to matriculate into the Ph.D. programs in the Molecular Biosciences at University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Piscataway Campus. This and other such programs should increase the diversity of the biomedical science workforce in the United States. A more diverse group of Ph.D.-level scientists in the U.S. should provide role models for more diverse trainees in the future, and should promote research into health issues of particular concern to minority communities.