Grant Supports New Postbaccalaureate to Ph.D. Program
UT Southwestern announces a new Postbaccalaureate to Ph.D. (PB2PHD) Program that will prepare recent college graduates for success as they pursue graduate research training in the biomedical sciences.
Funded by a generous grant from the Communities Foundation of Texas, the award will support an important and innovative diversity, equity, and inclusion program focused on mentoring underrepresented students to prepare them to pursue a doctorate in biomedical science.
“We’re thrilled to be a part of diversifying the biomedical research field by investing in UT Southwestern’s Postbaccalaureate to Ph.D. Program,” said Sarah Cotton Nelson, the Communities Foundation of Texas’ Chief Philanthropy Officer. “We know that supporting the development of medical professionals from all backgrounds helps to decrease health disparities and build thriving communities for all.”
The PB2PHD Program, launching this summer, is led by Arnaldo Díaz Vázquez, Ph.D., and will provide scholars a yearlong, faculty-mentored research experience and an academic and professional development plan to strengthen their skills and prepare them for the rigors of Ph.D. training.
“The program targets students who need more experience in doing research to strengthen their skills and increase their competitiveness for admission to graduate school,” said Dr. Díaz Vázquez, Program Director and Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion in UT Southwestern’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. “Many such individuals are members of underrepresented and/or socioeconomically disadvantaged groups. The goal is to help these students move into a Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. program and ultimately make the transition into the biomedical science workforce.”
All students are welcome to apply to the program, and five students will be recruited for the first cohort. Each student will receive a stipend or research assistantship of $35,000 per year, allowing them to focus on their research training rather than outside employment. They will also receive individual health insurance, support to attend a scientific conference, tuition, and fees. Students may apply for a second year in the program, contingent on first-year performance and funding availability.
Awardees will work in a UTSW laboratory on research that matches their scientific interests, take graduate-level courses, and receive formal training in responsible research conduct. Students will receive academic and professional development activities tailored to their individual needs, such as scientific seminars, scientific writing, and interview skills. At the culmination of the program, students will present their work to faculty mentors and colleagues at UT Southwestern as well as at a national scientific conference.
“The addition of a postbaccalaureate training program will aim to expand our reach and capture talent that is being lost due to limited training opportunities, awareness of careers in STEM, lack of mentoring programs, and a clear acknowledgment and understanding of the many challenges faced by students from underrepresented populations,”said Dr. Díaz Vázquez.
