Bridge to Ph.D. Program in the Natural Sciences

Program Overview

The Bridge to the Ph.D. Program aims to provide an intensive research, coursework, and mentoring experience to talented post-baccalaureate scholars from ethnic groups that have been historically underrepresented in the natural sciences.  As a pipeline-building initiative, the Bridge Program seeks to enhance participants’ candidacy for acceptance to Ph.D. programs.

Bridge participants are provided with full-time, salaried positions as Columbia University Research Assistants for up to two years.  This opportunity provides exposure to laboratory-based science under the supervision and mentorship of faculty members, post-doctoral researchers, and graduate students. The current salary for Research Assistant (RA) positions is $32,300 per annum.  Program participants are also provided with discretionary funding of $1,500 per year to support professional and educational expenses (examples include travel to professional conferences or graduate school interviews, application or course registration fees, or the purchasing of books or journal subscriptions).  As full-time employees of Columbia University, RAs are eligible for University benefits including medical insurance, transit reimbursement, and retirement benefits, among others. 

Additionally, Bridge participants enroll in one course per semester at Columbia that is related to their future field of study and attend monthly one-on-one progress meetings with a program advisor.  They do not pay tuition for these courses but are responsible for related registration and course fees.  Through Columbia’s School of Continuing Education, program participants also have access to GRE test preparation, writing workshops, time management courses, and other services designed to facilitate the process of applying to graduate programs.

To meet our current Bridge participants, click here.

PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY

  • four-year degree from an accredited college or university (students who will graduate with a four-year degree in the spring of 2009 are also eligible);
  • minimum GPA of 2.7
  • demonstrated commitment to apply to Ph.D. programs within two years of beginning the program
  • U.S. citizenship or permanent residency

Consideration is given to applicants from historically underrepresented groups that include, but are not limited to:

  • Blacks/African Americans
  • Hispanics
  • Native Americans/Alaska Natives
  • Pacific Islanders

Application Procedures

The application deadline for the Bridge program is May 1, 2009, but applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis.   Applicants will be notified of acceptance by May 15, and those accepted to the program must be able to begin working as full-time Research Assistants during the month of July, 2009.

Applications should include the following materials:

1) cover letter introducing yourself and your application;
2) current curriculum vitae;
3) official undergraduate transcript;
4) 2-page statement of intent.  The statement should outline your qualifications (including prior research experience), scholarly interests, and long-term education and career goals;
5) 2 letters of recommendation (1 of which must be an academic reference).

Complete applications should be sent to the following address:

Geraldine Downey, Ph.D.
Vice Provost for Diversity Initiatives
ATTN: Bridge to the Ph.D. Program
305 Low Library
MC 4339
535 W. 116th Street
New York, NY 10027

For any questions about the Bridge Program, please contact Brian Van Buren in the Office of the Vice Provost for Diversity Initiatives at (212) 854-9878.