B2D Program Summary

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (CPP), the lead institution for this grant, is partnering with the University of California, Riverside (UCR), the RO1 institution, in a Master’s of Science (MS) Bridges to PhD program (B2D). B2D is an NIH sponsored program. The overall program goal is to increase the number of MS students from underrepresented minority (URM) racial and ethnic groups, low socio-economic backgrounds and those with disabilities successfully transitioning to PhD programs in biomedical research. Each student will have a CPP Faculty Research Mentor (FRM), a UCR FRM, a CPP Faculty Advisor (FA) and a UCR FA. B2D students will have 2 years to complete their MS research project at CPP, participate in research-related skills at both institutions and conduct a summer research internship at UCR. B2D students will be paired with CPP MS alumni or UCR PhD predoctoral candidates to provide near-peer mentoring. Leveraging these activities will build student confidence, communication skills, scientific ethical behavior, STEM networking and awareness of future career opportunities. Sense of community will expand further by inviting students’ families to program socials at the beginning, middle and end of the program to engage family. By nurturing a sense of community amongst the B2D students, their mentors, and their families, the students will have a strong support network to help them complete a PhD and have a successful STEM career.