The Virginia-North Carolina Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation looks forward to hosting its second Bridge to the Doctorate (BD) cohort in fall 2023 at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). BD funding is only available to individuals who were Level 1 LSAMP students as an undergraduate. During the fall 2022 semester, seniors and alumni are encouraged to apply to VCU STEM graduate programs. They can contact departments directly to request a fee waiver. Drs. Mychal Smith, Joyce Lloyd, Michael Grotewiel, and Gregory Triplett will serve as program directors of the BD. Dr. Mychal Smith will coordinate programming for the BD as well as faculty mentors for each of the fellows.
Compensation
• $32,000 stipend
• Cost of education allowance including: tuition and university fees; health insurance
• Funding guaranteed for up to six years for students in good academic standing
• Two-week bridge program
• Peer Mentoring
• Support for writing fellowship applications
Download the program flyer to learn about additional details to include and all available STEM graduate programs at VCU. Students should contact Dr. Mychal Smith directly if they plan to apply to supply next steps for LSAMP Level 1 Status verification or have any questions.
LSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate at the University of Virginia:
The first LSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate (BD) cohort started Fall 2019; a second cohort began in Fall 2020. Individuals received a stipend, the cost of education allowance, and participated in a mentoring institute. In order to qualify individuals had to be considered a Level 1 LSAMP student as an undergraduate and be admitted into one of UVA's Ph.D. programs. Dr. Keisha John, Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion in the College of Arts & Sciences, serves as BD Program Director. The University of Virginia LSAMP BD program is not accepting any additional participants. Individuals should consider applying to LSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate Program at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Bridge to the Doctorate Opportunities:
University of Colorado Boulder Bridge to Doctorate Graduate Fellowship Program
University of Colorado Boulder is accepting applications for our newly funded Bridge to the Doctorate program in engineering, computer science, and physics. Current or former LSAMP students who have an interest in pursuing a PhD degree in these STEM disciplines are encouraged to apply by December 1!
The selected scholars will receive a stipend of $ 34,000 per year plus tuition and fees. Additional details can be found at https://www.colorado.edu/engineering/cu-boulder-lsamp-bridge-doctorate-program. Questions, contact Project Director Terri Wright at terri.wright@colorado.edu.
Info Sessions:
• Session One: Monday, October 10, 2:00 pm MT
• Session Two: Thursday, October 27, 11:30 am MT
Registration link for info sessions: https://www.colorado.edu/program/lsamp-bd/content/cu-boulder-lsamp-bridge-doctorate-information-sessions
University of Texas System LSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate Opportunity
The Bridge to the Doctorate at University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) will support 12 Ph.D. students in their first two years of study. Each participant will receive a total of $32,000 per year for two years, and an annual allowance for books, materials and supplies for two years. Subsequently, participants will receive offers as Research Assistants, Teaching Assistants, or Assistant Instructors. Tuition will be waived for the duration of their Ph.D. studies.
Qualifications:
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
• Must have participated in a Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program as an undergraduate. Program participation/certification will be confirmed with the BS degree-granting institution.
• Must have received a Bachelor's degree from an LSAMP campus in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) discipline. The NSF definition of STEM fields includes mathematics, natural sciences, engineering, computer and information sciences, and the social and behavioral sciences – psychology, economics, and sociology.
• Must be admitted into a STEM Ph.D. program at UTEP by November 1, 2022 (for Spring 2023 applicants) or June 1, 2023 (for Fall 2023 applicants).
Application Packet must include the following items:
• Resume (pdf)
• Letter of Interest (pdf)
• Personal statement (1 page – pdf), relevant background statement (1 page – pdf), and future goals statement (1 page - pdf).
• A graduate research plan statement that includes a description of proposed research (2 page - pdf).
• Two letters of recommendations from university faculty or professional staff (pdf).
• One letter of support from the proposed Ph.D. dissertation advisor (pdf).
• Official transcripts (pdf).
Details about these programs can be found at http://catalog.utep.edu/grad/. UTEP Graduate School information can be accessed at https://www.utep.edu/graduate/. For more information on the BD Fellowship application process please contact: Ms. Ariana Arciero avarcier@utep.edu, Associate Director UT System LSAMP.
Apply to Graduate School at U.Va.:
VA–NC Alliance (LSAMP) students applying to graduate school at the University of Virginia may submit an application to the Office of Graduate Student Diversity Programs for a fee waiver. Visit "Application Fee Waiver Information" for instructions and eligibility requirements. LSAMP Programs to include the VA–NC Alliance are listed underneath the "Organization Affiliation Eligibility" section.
Applying to Graduate School:
Check out these grad school “how-to” YouTube videos published by UC Berkeley. Topics include: personal statement writing, financing graduate school, engineering Ph.D. student panel, etc.
Graduate School Preparation Retreats:
Held annually at VA-NC Alliance's partner institutions, workshop topics include:
completing the graduate application, writing a personal statement, securing letters of recommendation, exploring funding opportunities, etc.
By participating in these workshops, students develop a better understanding of the graduate school application process and have the opportunity to complete at least one graduate school application.
Please contact your home institution for information related to upcoming retreats.
Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) Resources:
Educational Testing Service GRE fee reduction waivers
Free GRE Resources maintained by Rice University Office of Academic Advising
Databases for Graduate Funding Opportunities:
CARAT Database for Grants and Fellowships (maintained by Harvard University)
GRAPES Database (maintained by UCLA)
Pathways to Science Graduate School Opportunities
Use this website to find programs such as undergraduate summer research opportunities, and graduate fellowships, as well as resources and materials pertaining to recruitment, retention, and mentoring. The site's advance search tool allows individuals to filter programs by upcoming deadlines.
• Fellowships for Masters Students
• Fellowships for Doctoral Candidates
• Postdoc Opportunities
• Graduate programs and internships
Presidential Management Fellows
Overview: A Federal-wide, flagship leadership development program for advanced degree candidates. The PMF-STEM track seeks to place graduate students from STEM disciplines in entry-level positions in Federal agencies around the country. Learn about the application process here.
Other Graduate School Opportunities:
Bridge to the Ph.D. Program in STEM at Columbia University
Overview: The Bridge to the Ph.D. Program aims to enhance the participation of students from underrepresented groups in Ph.D. programs in STEM. The Bridge Program is an intensive research, academic, and mentoring experience for post-baccalaureates seeking to strengthen their graduate school applications and to prepare for the transition into graduate school. Recent Bridge Alumni have gone on to Ph.D. programs at Columbia University, but also to Albert Einstein School of Medicine, Cornell University, Northwestern University, the University of California-Davis, the University of Chicago, and Weill Cornell Medical College.
Bridge participants are hired as full-time Columbia University research assistants (RAs) for up to two years and conduct research under the mentorship of faculty members, post-doctoral researchers, and graduate students. The 2019-2020 salary for Bridge RAs is $40,600 per year. Program participants are also provided with $1,500 per year to support professional and educational expenses (examples include travel to professional conferences and the purchase of textbooks), and, as full-time employees, are eligible for University benefits. Note: the salary and education stipend will be $50,123 and $2,000, respectively for Bridge participants in economics.
Program Eligibility:
• A four-year degree from an accredited college or university
• A minimum GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale
• A desire to apply to Ph.D. programs after completing the Bridge Program
• U.S. citizenship or permanent residence status
Applications available 12/19/22 - 2/17/23. Learn more and apply at https://bridgetophd.facultydiversity.columbia.edu/content/apply-bridge-program.
Grad Studies at UC Merced: Webinars and Networking Events for Students
Application Deadline:
• (General): January 15, 2023
• (By group): https://graduatedivision.ucmerced.edu/prospective-students/ application-dates
Overview: The Graduate Division is dedicated to excellence in academic and research training of graduate students at UC Merced. The Division works closely with the Graduate Council of the Academic Senate to ensure the highest quality in graduate education, facilitate development of doctoral and master’s degree programs, and implement Senate policies. Graduate education at UC Merced is founded on disciplinary and interdisciplinary research excellence; a deep appreciation for diversity, equity, and inclusion; and a supportive community in which students can thrive. The Graduate Division supports every stage of graduate student life including admissions, funding, academic progress and degree milestones, mentoring activities, preparation for teaching, and other resources and professional development activities. The staff of the Graduate Division takes pride in creating an inclusive environment that respects and celebrates diversity, and in our collegial working relations with faculty, staff and students from all graduate programs and administrative units at UC Merced, and across the UC system.
Note: The Division is offering an application fee waiver for the Fall 2023 cycle. The request is located within the graduate application. Additional instructions for claiming the fee waiver can also be found on their website.
Learn more about recruitment and outreach events at https://graduatedivision.ucmerced.edu/prospective-students/choose-merced/recruitment-events
Apply at https://graduatedivision.ucmerced.edu/prospective-students/how-apply
Fellowship Opportunities:
Graduate STEM Research Fellowships
Overview: The Virginia Space Grant Consortium (VSGC) provides $6,000 graduate research fellowships to students majoring in STEM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). Fellowships require students to participate in a faculty-mentored research experience that aligns with NASA’s Mission Directorates. Awardees are required to use $1,000 from the Fellowship to support travel to related conferences and for research-related supplies and materials. Awards are renewable for one year for students making satisfactory academic and research progress.
Eligibility:
• U.S. citizen
• Graduation date no sooner than May, 2024
• Conducting research that supports NASA’s mission
• Grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Must not graduate before May 2024
• Must be receiving matching funds of an applicant’s academic institution enrolled as a full- time graduate student at one of the Virginia Space Grant Consortium member institutions: The College of William and Mary, Hampton University, Old Dominion University, University of Virginia and Virginia Tech
Institute for Advanced Computational Science (IACS) Graduate Fellowship at Stony Brook University
Overview: The Institute for Advanced Computational Science offers a limited competition awarding graduate research fellowships to outstanding, distinguished undergraduate students interested in pursuing graduate education and computational-related research at the Institute under the mentorship of core or affiliate IACS faculty researchers. IACS Graduate Fellows will play a strong role in the overall life of the institute, which is comprised of 13 core and ~40 affiliate faculty spanning chemistry, materials by design, condensed matter, astrophysics, atmospheric science, nanoscience, linguistics, ecology, applied mathematics, computer science, biomedical informatics, chemistry, civil engineering, electrical and computer engineering, music, neurobiology and behavior, psychology, and sociology. During the first 1 - 2 fellowship years, graduate fellows will follow departmental norms acquiring valuable teaching experience and become fully integrated into their respective departments by serving as Teaching Assistants (TAs) with a full IACS stipend. Funding beyond the scope of the 5-year Fellowship will be expected to be provided by the research advisor or another source at the stipend level.
Compensation: The IACS Graduate Fellowship ensures funding for 5 years. IACS Graduate Fellows will be provided with competitive stipends matching the current NSF rate of $34,000. Additionally, Fellows will be provided with an equipment and travel allowance in the amount of $8,000.
Professional Development Opportunities:
NSF Minority Research Programs
NSF has a number of special programs that address members of groups underrepresented in science and engineering. Activities are aimed at increasing the participation of underrepresented minorities; improving the recruitment and retention of women and girls in science and engineering careers; and ensuring that persons with disabilities have the opportunity to participate fully in NSF-supported projects. Such efforts include programs for students, faculty, and institutions designed to develop as fully as possible our Nation’s talent pool.