Bridges to Baccalaureate Degree Program

Biomedical Research

The Bridges to Baccalaureate Degree Program, also called Blazing to Biomedical Careers (BBC) is recruiting for its 10th year of consecutive grant from the National Institute of Health (NIH). This program is a partnership between Jefferson State Community College (JSCC) and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). The grant funds are used to support a training program for Jefferson State students who are interested in pursuing careers in biomedical and behavioral sciences. (Click to view UAB’s program website.)

Introduction

The BBC program provides paid research training activities for JSCC students who want to enter advanced biomedical research careers. It is part of a larger NIH initiative to create an upward momentum for students who do not have access to advanced biomedical training and careers.

BBC assists students in earning a baccalaureate degree in biomedical or behavioral sciences so that they may pursue advanced education and entry into a career in biomedical research. The program has the special mission of serving groups that are under-represented in science professions, including racial minorities, women, and rural students.

Benefits

The JSCC students selected to participate in this grant-funded program will receive the following benefits:

Benefits

Ten-week paid summer research internship at UAB in the amount of $3,000
Up to $1,000 research extension during the school year
An advisor who follows your progress until you graduate from JSCC
A mentor who will follow your final two years at UAB
Research experience with the expectation of having at least one publication prior to your graduation from UAB
Travel to national research conferences to present your research
Additional Scholarship opportunities upon transferring to UAB as a Bridges graduate
Networking with internationally known researchers

About the Program

Academic Year and Summer:

BBC includes both school year and summer opportunities that will prepare you to succeed in biomedical and behavioral careers.
School year courses in the student’s freshman and sophomore years at community college will provide him or her with training to excel at UAB and beyond.
The coursework will include classes in biomedical research methods, research ethics, and reading/writing/reviewing scientific research papers.

Research Phase:

The research phase consists of students spending a 10-week internship each summer (40 hours per week) carrying out a research project in the laboratory of one of UAB’s funded bio-medical researchers.

The research will be designed in part by the student, who is then expected to develop a presentation for a national meeting and eventually be an author on a biomedical research journal paper.

The research phase may continue into the academic year, in which case the student will receive additional compensation.

National Exposure:

Attending a national scientific meeting will provide the student with the opportunity to meet and network with other undergraduate students from colleges across the United States and the world.

As A Graduate:

Following graduation from JSCC, students will be encouraged to transfer to UAB and continue in a biomedically-related career field.

Contacts