Bridges to the Doctorate Research Training Program at California State University Long Beach

Project Summary/Abstract
The Bridges to the Doctorate (BTD) Training Program at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) will
partner with University of California, Irvine (UCI) to produce a seamless and supportive bridge for
underrepresented (UR) and underserved (US) students interested in biomedical research careers. Both
campuses are HSI and AANAPISI that normalize diversity and value inclusion along with providing rigorous
STEM training. Experiences at both institutions will support science identity and a sense of belonging, which
will remain with BTD trainees throughout their career. The BTD program will support ten talented UR/US
Master’s degree students from the CSULB Biological Sciences, Biochemistry and Chemistry graduate
programs. These students will complete graduate courses and defend an M.S. thesis with a two-year time line.
Faculty with strong records in publication and graduate training were selected as potential BTD research
mentors. The M.S. programs will be enhanced through a weekly Career Development Community, an annual
Career Panel and Enhancing Reproducibility workshop, and opportunities to present research at conferences.
BTD students will read literature about ethnicity and race in STEM to gain meta-cognition of science identity,
imposterism and the diversity-innovation paradox. A structured near-peer mentoring program will partner first
and second year BTD students to provide guidance and support to mentees and leadership experience for
mentors. Research mentor training at CSULB will focus on inclusive mentoring for a diverse student population
and will include the Beach Mentoring Program as well as annual STEM-specific mentoring workshops. The
M.S. students in the BTD program will visit UCI for campus tours, seminars followed by meetings with Minority
Science Programs (MSP) students, the MSP Summer Research Symposium and mock interviews. UCI has
reserved slots for BTD students who matriculate to UCI to participate in the Competitive Edge Ph.D.
preparation summer program. Over 20 PI’s at UCI have keen interest in mentoring BTD students, and BTD
faculty mentors are interested in setting up collaborations with UCI faculty. The five measurable objectives of
the BTD Training Program at CSULB are 1) All BTD students will meet program requirements; 2) More than
75% of BTD students will complete their degree in two years; 3) More than 75% of BTD students will enter
biomedical science Ph.D. programs within three years of starting the BTD program with 50% being accepted to
UCI Ph.D. programs; 4) Of BTD students who enter Ph.D. programs, more than 80% will complete the Ph.D.
degree; and 5) The average time to degree for BTD students after entry into Ph.D. study will be less than 60
months. After completion of their Ph.D. degrees, BTD students will continue in competitive postdoc positions to
diversify the biomedical research enterprise.

Grant Number: 5T32GM138075-05
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: JUDY BRUSSLAN