Bridge to the Baccalaureate

Second year Bridge scholars with program coordinator, Dr. Tiffany Plantan (front, far right), at the 2010 Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) in Charlotte, NC.

Second year Bridge scholars Madelen Diaz (left) and Ana Bermudez (right) with program director, Dr. Michael Gaines. Madelen (mentor: Sanjiv Bhatia, Ph.D.) and Ana (mentors: Shyam Gajavelli, Ph.D. and Jacqueline Sagen, Ph.D.) won awards at the 2010 Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) for outstanding poster presentations in the Neuroscience category.

At the 2009 ABRCMS, Ricardo Solorzano (mentors: Shyam Gajavelli, Ph.D. and Jacqueline Sagen, Ph.D.) won an award for best poster presentation in the Neuroscience category, Sara Rodriguez (mentor: Samita Andreansky, Ph.D.) in the Microbiological Sciences category and Betty Albo Obeso (mentor: Livia Bajenaru, Ph.D) in the Cell Biological Sciences category.

The University of Miami (UM) and Miami Dade College (MDC) have collaborated on the Bridge to the Baccalaureate Program since 1994.  The long-term goal of the program is to encourage students from underrepresented groups to pursue PhDs and enter research careers in the biomedical sciences.  It is designed to facilitate their transition into the biomedical sciences at UM.  The Bridge Program is funded and   supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS).  This funding provides students with paid research experiences while at MDC.  The key   components of the Bridge Program are:
- Special courses
- Research experiences
- Faculty mentoring
- Travel to national science meetings
 

Requirements for Bridge Program

- Students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents to be eligible.
- Students should apply the summer before beginning their first year at Miami Dade College (MDC).

Summer Before First Year at MDC
-Complete Chemistry 103, a three credit chemistry course at UM taken the summer before entering MDC

First Year at MDC
- Complete the Emerging Scholars General   Chemistry Workshop, Chemistry 488, a course at UM in the fall and spring   semester for students simultaneously enrolled in general chemistry at   MDC
- Complete Biology 162 in the spring   semester, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) research-based   laboratory course at UM.  MDC credit will be granted upon successful   completion.
- Attend three Family Science Sundays at UM with a parent or guardian
Summer Between First and Second Year at MDC
- Conduct research with a UM faculty mentor for a maximum of 20 hours   per week in summer session A and a maximum of 40 hours per week during   summer session B
- Complete a Research Ethics course at MDC North Campus
- Complete Biology 2024C, a Biotechnology course at MDC North Campus
- Complete and submit a scientific paper based on the summer research   conducted and present the findings at a UM mini-symposium (end of   summer)

Second Year at MDC
- Complete Biology 152 in the fall semester, an HHMI   research-based laboratory course at UM.  MDC credit will be granted upon   successful completion.
- Attend and present summer research at a national scientific meeting in the fall semester
- Conduct research with a UM faculty mentor during the fall   and spring semesters of the second year at MDC for a maximum of 10 hours   per week
- Complete and submit a scientific paper based on the   research conducted during the second year and present findings at a UM   mini-symposium held at the end of the spring semester
- Graduate from MDC with an AA degree and at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average
- Apply for federal, state and UM financial aid before the designated deadlines

Requirements for accepted Bridge Transfer Students

- Miami Dade College (MDC) students who successfully complete the Bridge to Baccalaureate Program can transfer to UM and are eligible to become Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) scholars or Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) scholars. As HHMI or IMSD scholars, students will receive paid research experiences.

Summer After Graduating from MDC
- Complete Biology 250, a UM Genetics course taken the summer after graduating from MDC
- Complete the Emerging Scholars Genetics Workshop in conjunction with Biology 250

Juniors and Senior Years at UM
- Major in Biology/Neuroscience and Minor in a Natural Science
- Maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA (Students with a cumulative GPA below 3.0 will be placed on academic probation and will have one semester to raise their cumulative GPA to the required 3.0 minimum)
- Attend monthly meetings with the Program Director
- Complete an extramural summer internship between the junior and senior year at a university that is located outside of the state of Florida
- Attend a national meeting (ABRCMS, SACNAS)
 
Course Requirements in Addition to Biology Major Requirements
- Organic Chemistry Workshop in the fall and spring semesters of the junior year in concordance with the Organic Chemistry course, Chemistry 201, and Organic Chemistry Lab, Chemistry 205
- Biology 299, research problems
- A minimum of two Biology credits from the following list: 253, 257, 374, 375
- A minimum of two of the following: Biology 495, 496, 497 (2 credits   each), which involve a research project carried out under the   supervision of a UM faculty member
- Biology 498, a senior thesis on the results of the research
- Biology 499, research colloquium
- A minimum of one course in the Department of Biology at the 500 level

Download the Bridge program brochure HERE
Eligible students may click HERE to download the application.

For additional information you may contact the Program Coordinatorand visit the Miami Dade College Bridge Program Website.