The University of California, Berkeley, in partnership with Chabot College and the Peralta Community College District, seeks to increase substantially the number of community college students from targeted underrepresented populations who transfer into and successfully complete biomedical and behavioral science degree programs at four-year institutions. The three-tiered strategy seeks to: 1) strengthen the transfer culture at the colleges and increase awareness of biomedical and behavioral science career opportunities; 2) nurture a cohort of students who aspire to transfer into these fields; and 3) identify fifteen outstanding students each year to participate in a rigorous program of study and faculty-mentored research at Berkeley. A team of distinguished scientists, experienced transfer preparation professionals, outstanding graduate researchers, and talented undergraduates will design and implement curriculum, support strategies, and structured research experiences for the Bridges students. The goal for the Bridges cohort is to increase the transfer rate to 85% and to increase the graduation rate of Bridges students who transfer to 85%. The institutional objectives of the grant are to increase the overall number of students from the targeted population who transfer from the partner institutions into the specified majors by 75% in the Peralta Community College District and by 28% at Chabot College. Ultimately, the aim is to significantly increase the pool of well-trained minority biomedical and behavioral scientists.

Public Health Relevance

The Bay Area has not only been at the forefront of the biotechnology revolution, but is also one of the most diverse areas in the country. Still many groups of people that have large communities in the region have not had a sufficient opportunity to help create ? and benefit from ? this dynamic growth. The Berkeley Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program will expand dramatically a pipeline of underrepresented students to academia and industry, where they can become leaders in the biomedical and behavioral science fields that are shaping the first half of the 21st century.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Education Projects (R25)
Project #
5R25GM095401-08
Application #
9464338
Study Section
NIGMS Initial Review Group (TWD)
Program Officer
Rubio, Mercedes
Project Start
2011-04-01
Project End
2021-03-31
Budget Start
2018-04-01
Budget End
2019-03-31
Support Year
8
Fiscal Year
2018
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Berkeley
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
124726725
City
Berkeley
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94704
Smith, M Duane; Arake-Tacca, Luisa; Nitido, Adam et al. (2016) Assembly of eIF3 Mediated by Mutually Dependent Subunit Insertion. Structure 24:886-96