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NSF LSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate Fellowship

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Louis Stokes Bridge to the Doctorate (BD) support the recruitment and retention of minority graduate students studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

The goal of the LSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate (BD) activity is to increase the quantity and quality of STEM graduate students from underrepresented populations, with emphasis on Ph.D. matriculation and completion.

General Requirements

Bridge to the Doctorate (BD) applicants must have been participants in an undergraduate LSAMP program.
Applicants must be accepted into a graduate program at the LSAMP BD campus site to be awarded the BD fellowship.
Program benefits include stipend support, cost of education allowance, travel to professional conferences, mentorship, and professional development.

Each individual BD may have additional requirements or benefits. Please contact the BD directly for detailed information.

Map of Bridge to the Doctorates

BD Profiles

BD Title: LSAMP Bridges to the Doctorate (BD) Program
Institution: California State University, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Participating students will focus on activities that will enhance their preparation for PhD studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). LSAMP-BD Program at California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA) includes completion of a Master of Science degree and entrance into a PhD program in a STEM discipline. LSAMP-BD fellows are expected to complete the Master of Science degree in science, mathematics or engineering within 24 months. At the start of each new, NSF-funded CSU LSAMP-BD program, a cohort of 12 students are selected.

BD Contact:
Mitzi Barrientos
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BD Website

BD Title: LSAMP BD: Clemson University, LS SCAMP
Institution: Clemson University, Clemson, SC
The Bridge to Doctorate (BD) Fellowship Program is committed to engaging students from underrepresented populations in graduate study within science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields of study in the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Science (CECAS) and College of Science (CoS)

BD Contact:
Dr. Rajendra Bordia
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BD Title: Bridge to the Doctorate Program at Delaware State University
Institution: Delaware State University, Dover, DE
Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Bridge to the Doctorate (BTD) program promotes the participation of underrepresented minority students in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The BTD program provides financial, academic and professional support while ensuring scholars build the connections and skills needed to excel in a chosen STEM career.

BD Contact:
Dr. Mazen Shahin
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BD Website

BD Title: Bridge to the Doctorate: Mississippi-LSAMP, Cohort 15
Institution: Jackson State University, Jackson, MS
The BD is a research based program where emphasis is placed on spending a significant amount of time carrying out laboratory and/or field-based experiments, including a 10-12 week extramural summer research internship. In addition to research, BD students will be enrolled as full-time MS students who will have to maintain a GPA of 3.0 or above. Additional methods to prepare our BD students for PhD programs, such as mentoring, critical thinking, GRE, and other workshops are also provided. The combination of these methods has been effective in preparing 96 of our BD fellows to be admitted into PhD programs, 26 to earn a PhD, and 1 to earn a PhD and a MD.

BD Contact:
Dr. Aston Hamme

BD Website

Institution: North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC

BD Contact:
Dr. Joel Ducoste

BD Title: Northeastern Strategic Advancement of Rising Scholars (STARS) Fellowship
Institution: Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Northeastern is a global, experiential R1 research university with selective PhD programs that prepare students to become knowledge creators in high-demand fields. All programs are distinguished by outstanding faculty, resources that foster interdisciplinary study, and research that is use-inspired – designed to address urgent societal challenges.

Graduate Programs:
All Northeastern STEM research doctorates

BD Contact:
Dr. Sara Wadia-Fascetti

BD Website

BD Title: CSU-LSAMP Bridge to Doctorate
Institution: Fresno State, Fresno, CA
Program activities are designed to ensure that each CSU-LSAMP BD fellow: - Pursues a rigorous curriculum of graduate study leading to a MS degree in a STEM discipline in two years - Participates in a project of original research and acquires the skills required to communicate the outcomes in written and oral formats - Receives intense advising, mentoring and academic support necessary to become a confident and successful graduate student; and - Achieves competitive scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) general & subject tests to support acceptance into a high quality PhD program

Graduate Programs:
Agricultural Science, Biology, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Geology, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Plant Science, and Viticulture and Enology.

BD Contact:
Mrs. Lilia De La Cerda
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BD Website | Twitter | Instagram

BD Title: Garden State LSAMP Bridges to the Doctorate Program at Rutgers University, Newark
Institution: Rutgers University Newark, Newark, NJ
Unique Individually Tailored Support Program in Top Ranked STEM Doctoral Programs: Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences/Geology, Math, Management Information Systems, Neurosciences and Physics BD Fellowships include stipends of $32,000/year + tuition for 2 years and Rutgers University will provide support for years 3-5. Include academic, social, professional development and career support programs that are individualized to the needs of the fellow.

Graduate Programs:
Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences/Geology, Math, Management Information Systems, Neurosciences and Physics

BD Contact:
Dr. Alec Gates
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BD Website

Institution: Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, College Station, TX
The Texas A&M University System Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (TAMUS LSAMP) Bridge to the Doctorate (BTD) program is designed to (1) retain BTD fellows into doctoral programs with funding after completion of the NSF BTD program (Master’s degree), (2) prepare fellows to meet the challenges of completing doctoral programs of study and for possible academic careers in higher education, and (3) develop the leadership skills necessary for them to succeed as young underrepresented minority professionals upon completion of doctoral program of study.

BD Contact:
Dr. John Avila
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BD Website

Institution: University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
The Bridge to the Doctorate Fellowship Program at UAB is a funding option from the National Science Foundation (NSF) created in response to the shortage of researchers nationwide from underrepresented groups in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). The program is administered at UAB through the ALSAMP program which is headquartered at The University of Alabama. The ultimate goal of the BD Program is to prepare historically underrepresented minority students to persist and complete STEM doctoral degree programs.

BD Contact:
Dr. Louis Dale

BD Website

Institution: University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

BD Contact:
Dr. Jean Andino

BD Website

BD Title: LSAMP BD: University of Arizona, Western Alliance to Expand Student Opportunities
Institution: University of Arizona, Tuscon, AZ

BD Contact:
Dr. Jean Andino

BD Website

BD Title: LSAMP BD: University of Arkansas ARK-LSAMP
Institution: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
The University of Arkansas, through the Arkansas Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, is the recipient of an NSF Bridge to the Doctorate (BD) Fellowship program. Current LSAMP students and beneficiaries are being recruited.

Graduate Programs:
Engineering: biomedical, biological, computer, chemical, civil, electrical, industrial, and mechanical Computer science Natural sciences: chemistry, biochemistry, physics, geosciences, mathematics, and biological sciences Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program

BD Contact:
Dr. Jorge Almodovar
|
BD Website

BD Title: All Nations LSAMP Bridge to Doctorate
Institution: University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
The All-Nations LSAMP Bridge to Doctorate program at the University of Idaho is part of a network of 34 geographically diverse alliance institutions. The BD program assists with funding for a cohort of 12 eligible Native American or Alaska Native doctoral students. Participating students choose their STEM-based field and pair up with professors with matching expertise. Students and their professors are encouraged to integrate traditional ecological knowledge, an indigenous way of seeing science and the environment, into their studies and dissertations. The program is designed to support students through the critical first two years of graduate study with institutional support through to the fellows’ completion. Fellows receive additional mentoring, coaching, professional development and support from faculty mentors and tribal partners, and bridge to doctorate staff, to ensure their success in their STEM Graduate program.

Graduate Programs:
Graduate Programs: • Animal Physiology • Bioinformatics & Computational Biology • Biological Engineering • Biology • Chemical Engineering • Chemistry • Civil Engineering • Computer Science • Electrical Engineering • Entomology • Environmental Science • Food Science • Geology • Material Science & Engineering • Mathematics • Mechanical Engineering • Microbiology, Molecular Biology & Biochemistry • Natural Resources • Neuroscience • Nuclear Engineering • Physics • Plant Science • Soil & Land Resources • Water Resources

BD Contact:
Dr. Jerry McMurtry
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BD Website

BD Title: Bridge to the Doctorate at the University of Illinois at Chicago
Institution: University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
The Illinois Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (ILSAMP) is led by Chicago State University, which is a Predominantly Black University (PBU). The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), a minority-serving (MSI) and Hispanic-Serving (HSI) institution hosts the 2019-2021 BD cohort of 12 historically underrepresented minority students pursuing doctoral degrees in STEM disciplines. UIC offers a comprehensive program that includes rigorous academic preparation and research training experiences as well as mentorship and professional development activities. Since the strategies implemented at UIC will result in the production of well-trained, highly-skilled STEM professionals from underrepresented minority groups, the project contributes significantly to increasing the diversity and representation in academia and the STEM workforce, thereby ensuring the nation's global competitiveness.

Graduate Programs:
UIC houses 177 total graduate degree programs. This includes 66 doctoral programs and 111 master's programs. A complete list of all programs STEM and other at http://www.uic.edu/academics/programs-of-study

BD Contact:
Jeremiah Abiade

BD Website

BD Title: LSAMP BD: University of Kentucky, KY-WV LSAMP
Institution: University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
KY-WV LSAMP has been awarded funding for the Bridge to the Doctorate (BD) program. National Science Foundation grant will support 12 students from underrepresented populations who are pursuing graduate degrees in STEM disciplines at the University of Kentucky. BD Fellows will receive $32,000/year stipend as well as support for cost of education for two years through the NSF grant. Fellows will receive continuing support from the university after the conclusion of the grant funding. Fellows will also receive coaching, academic and community support, professional development, and access to opportunities for research, writing, and presentation. More information can be found on our website.

Graduate Programs:
The University of Kentucky has dozens of STEM graduate programs in many disciplines. Faculty directly involved in the BD project include those from chemistry, computer science, engineering, mathematics, and neuroscience disciplines. https://gradschool.uky.edu/graduate-programs

BD Contact:
Ms. Fara Williams
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BD Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

BD Title: OK-LSAMP Cohort 9 - Building Sustained Communities to Diversify the Graduate STEM Workforce and Professoriate
Institution: University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
The goal of the LSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate (BD) Activity is to increase the quantity and quality of STEM graduate students from underrepresented populations, with emphasis on Ph.D. matriculation and completion. BD programs implemented in the nation's institutions of higher education contribute to addressing one of the objectives in NSF's 2014-2018 Strategic Plan, namely to "integrate education and research to support development of a diverse STEM workforce with cutting-edge capabilities." The University of Oklahoma, a member institution of the Oklahoma LSAMP alliance (OK-AMP), proposes an integrated model of social supports and community networks to support the graduate education for 12 graduate students from underrepresented groups as Bridge to the Doctorate (BD) Fellows for two years. Bridge to the Doctorate: OK-LSAMP will integrate Social Cognitive Career Theory and Social Capital Theory into a research-based mentoring program for optimizing academic, personal, and professional development of 12 BD Fellows. The mentoring program focuses on helping Fellows develop multi-layered communities of support. The project seeks to institutionalize a culture that enhances the personal and professional development and improve retention to PhD for all STEM graduate students.

BD Contact:
Ms. Brenda Morales
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BD Title: Bridge to the Doctorate Program
Institution: University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, San Juan, PR
The Bridge-to-the-Doctorate Program, an initiative within the LSAMP Program, began in August of 2003, with ten former undergraduate PR-LSAMP students being awarded fellowships for their first two years of graduate studies at UPR-Rio Piedras. Since then, 96 additional fellowships have been awarded, for a total of 106 Fellows.

BD Contact:

BD Website

BD Title: USF Bridge to Doctorate Program
Institution: University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
The Bridge to the Doctorate (BD) activity at the University of South Florida (USF) is funded by the Florida-Georgia Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (FGLSAMP) through a grant from the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation program’s within the National Science Foundation. It provides graduate fellowships for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) doctoral students from underrepresented minority populations. LSAMP BD fellows receive 5-year funding to complete doctoral degrees in the College of Engineering, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Marine Science, and Morsani College of Medicine.

BD Contact:
Dr. Thomas Weller

BD Website

BD Title: LSAMP BD: University of Texas at Dallas University of Texas System LSAMP
Institution: University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX
The goal of the UT Dallas BD Program is to support underrepresented minority students (URM) to complete doctoral degrees in STEM. It will also develop best practices that increase the success for these students which can be implemented broadly at UT Dallas and at UT System LSAMP Alliance partner institutions, and so positively benefit all graduate students.

Graduate Programs:
Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication Cognition and Neuroscience Communication Sciences and Disorders Psychological Sciences Biomedical Engineering Computer Engineering Computer Science Electrical Engineering Materials Science and Engineering Mechanical Engineering Software Engineering Telecommunications Engineering Molecular and Cell Biology Chemistry Geosciences Math Sciences - Statistics Mathematics Physics

BD Contact:
Dr. Amy Walker
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BD Website

BD Title: WiscAMP Bridge to the Doctorate
Institution: University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
The WiscAMP alliance includes 2 research extensive institutions that offer doctoral programs in STEM: UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee. If you are an LSAMP student and would like to pursue your graduate studies in STEM at UW-Madison or UW-Milwaukee, please see the contact information below to learn about our STEM graduate programs and the process for obtaining support through the WiscAMP-BD Fellowship.

BD Contact:
Dr. Gail Coover
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BD Website

NSF LSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate Fellowship

General Requirements

Map of Bridge to the Doctorates

BD Profiles

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