Kennesaw State receives $2M grant to boost doctoral education

College student Tyler Hill’s success story exemplifies the impact of the Peach State Bridges to the Doctorate Program at Kennesaw State University (KSU).

After receiving an email about the program shortly after completing his undergraduate degree, Hill joined the Master of Science on Integrative Biology at KSU, leading him to a Ph.D. in neuroscience at Brandeis University. This success has contributed to the program receiving a new five-year training grant renewal of $2 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Founded in 2018 by KSU professor Jonathan McMurry, the Bridges program supports master’s students in integrative biology or chemical sciences from underrepresented communities, preparing them for doctoral degrees in biomedical sciences. The recent grant renewal aims to continue the program’s success in advancing participants to doctoral programs.

Melanie Griffin, Martin Hudson, and Kojo Mensa-Wilmot are co-principal investigators on the renewal, and they emphasize the program’s role in providing research opportunities, mentorship, and professional development to participants. Hill, part of the program’s second cohort, highlights the impact of KSU in guiding him toward his Ph.D., stating, “Kennesaw State showed me the way, and I wouldn’t be where I am without my experiences there.”

The renewal allows the program to offer more generous stipends to trainees, covering attendance costs. Financial flexibility will aid recruitment efforts, expanding the program’s reach to financially disadvantaged students.

The program’s success is evident as former participants like Hill and Wendy Aquino-Nunez progress to defend their dissertations and pursue academic careers.

Griffin and Hudson express pride in their role as mentors, emphasizing the bright future of the Peach State Bridges to the Doctorate program. With the recent renewal, they hope the program thrives indefinitely, thanks to the achievements of its participants.