| NSF Org: |
AST Division Of Astronomical Sciences |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | April 27, 2018 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | April 27, 2018 |
| Award Number: | 1742716 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Matthew Benacquista
AST Division Of Astronomical Sciences MPS Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences |
| Start Date: | May 1, 2018 |
| End Date: | April 30, 2020 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $30,000.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $30,000.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
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| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
615 W 131ST ST NEW YORK NY US 10027-7922 (212)854-6851 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
NY US 10027-6902 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): |
SPECIAL PROGRAMS IN ASTRONOMY, OFFICE OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY AC, Integrative Activities in Phys |
| Primary Program Source: |
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| Program Reference Code(s): |
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| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.049 |
ABSTRACT
Students from groups underrepresented in the sciences are more likely to take post-baccalaureate classes or pursue a Master's degree before applying to Ph.D. programs. The goal of the Columbia Bridge-to-PhD Program is to increase the number of underrepresented scholars entering STEM PhD programs and to give them the skills necessary for success in those programs. One such necessity is a network of mentors and colleagues. The program holds a half-day symposium every year with returning alumni sharing their experiences. This grant will support a "Super Symposium" to evaluate the lessons learned from the the ten-year history of the program. Funds will support travel costs of program alumni to attend the symposium.
The PI has begun analyzing the impact of the program on students' graduate career trajectories. His data show that the program has a high success rate for students admitted to PhD programs, with 80% of the program's applicants being accepted. Preliminary data show that the Bridge Program's alumni are more likely to be admitted to higher-ranked, less diverse graduate programs.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH
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PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
The Bridge to Ph.D. Program in STEM, as it is now known, was created in 2008 to provide underrepresented post-baccalaureate students with a research-centered experience designed to improve their preparation for graduate school. Participants are hired to work for two years in Columbia laboratories as full-time employees at a salary set by the university. They complete Ph.D.-type work and contribute to projects in highly productive, well-established laboratories. Upon finishing the Program, they should have an understanding of how to be effective, creative scientists.
As Columbia employees, Bridge participants are able to take up to two tuition-free courses per semester, and the Program requires that they take at least one. The Program, with input from the participants' sponsoring PI, tailors the coursework to the needs of the individual participant. Bridge participants are also expected to attend colloquia and symposia, to participate in weekly laboratory meetings, and to attend and present at professional meetings.
The main purpose of this project was to support the Bridge Program's 10th annual research symposium, held May 31st to June 1st, 2018. The research symposium is the culmination of the Program's year. It is simultaneously an opportunity for the participants to describe their work to one of the most diverse audiences they are ever likely to address, a celebration of their accomplishments (there is a graduation ceremony for our second years), a chance to catch up (and network!) with alumni, past PIs, administrators, and other friends of the Program, and of course a showcase for the Program. For the 10th anniversary symposium, our goal was to have every Bridge participant, past and current, come back to Columbia, participate in panels, present their work, and network with their Bridge family.
Twenty-two alumni attended at least part of the 10th anniversary symposium, with 18 giving talks and/or participating in a panel. This is in addition to the 12 talks that were given by the (then) active participants in the Program. The symposium was also attended by all three of the previous Program assistant/associate directors, who moderated sessions and/or a panel. The symposium therefore met its primary goals by:- providing a forum for celebrating the Program and especially our alumni;
- giving our alumni an opportunity to update us as to their current research/activities;
- allowing our current participants to present on their research;
- introducing our current participants to our alumni, and giving them an opportunity to hear about their predecessors' experiences.
Last Modified: 07/29/2020
Modified by: Marcel A Ag?eros
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