Bridges to the Doctorate program

²ÝÁñÊÓƵ State University (²ÝÁñÊÓƵ) was awarded a National Institutes of Health (NIH) T32 training grant, which supports the Peach State Bridges to the Doctorate Program! This is part of a federal program that aims to develop a of well-trained biomedical scientists who will transition from master’s degree programs and complete rigorous biomedical, research-focused doctoral degree programs (e.g., Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D.) in biomedical fields. The program offsets the cost of stipends, tuition and fees, and training related expenses, including health insurance, for the appointed trainees in accordance with the approved . Full details of eligibility criteria can be found .

Photo of a graduate student and faculty mentor working on research in a laboratory

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Eligibility

Bridges to the Doctorate trainees will join one of the CSM’s innovative research-based graduate programs in Integrative Biology or Chemical Sciences. We offer cutting-edge training in a small, nurturing, but vigorously active environment. Participants receive training that is simply unavailable anywhere else at the master’s level. Many of our faculty are funded by the NIH and the National Science Foundation (NSF) in various disciplines. Participants are matched with a mentor/coach, create and implement an individual development plan (IDP), pursue research and research training in a variety of biomedically relevant fields and participate in organized doctoral transition activities. Our primary doctoral granting partner is the . However, participants may bridge to any biomedical doctoral program of their choice - our alumni are currently pursuing Ph.Ds. at UGA, Vanderbilt, Emory, Duke, Brandeis and other top-tier research universities.

Bridges scholars should meet all requirements of the master’s program of interest and be dedicated to pursuing a Ph.D. in a biomedical field upon completion of their studies at ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ. NIH grant number is T32 GM150548-01 was awarded from the NIH's National Institute of General Medical Sciences.

We are very proud of our students and faculty, the research they do, and the discoveries they make. But mostly, we are proud of our where our alumni go and what they do - we are quite successful in catalyzing the development of young scientists into thriving Ph.D. students.

Mentors

  • Name
    Position

    • Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry

      mhalim1@kennesaw.edu
      (470) 578-6759
      SC 422

    • Associate Professor of Biochemistry

      tleeper@kennesaw.edu
      (470) 578-2258
      SL 3006

    • Assistant Professor of Organic Chemistry

      csaintlo@kennesaw.edu
      (470) 578-6048
      SC 428

    • Professor of Chemistry

      dtapu@kennesaw.edu
      (470) 578-2259
      SL 4014

  • Name
    Position

    • Assistant Professor of Ecology and Organismal Biology

      wpreisse@kennesaw.edu
      (470) 578-3466
      SC 326

    • Associate Professor of Biology

      jtaglial@kennesaw.edu
      (470) 578-3678
      SC 332

  • Name
    Position

    • Associate Professor of Developmental Biology

      abryants@kennesaw.edu
      (470) 578-4919
      SL 4004

    • Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology

      bcarpe18@kennesaw.edu
      (470) 578-4998
      SL 4003

    • Assistant Vice President for Innovation and Commercialization and Associate Professor of Microbiology

      ccornel5@kennesaw.edu
      (470) 578-5115
      SC 519

    • Interim Chair of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Director of Special Programs and Associate Professor of Biology

      mgriff40@kennesaw.edu
      (470) 578-6654
      SC 509

    • Assistant Professor of Microbiology

      ahaddow@kennesaw.edu
      (470) 578-2653
      SL 4008

    • Professor of Biology

      mhudso28@kennesaw.edu
      (470) 578-7558
      SL 4002

    • Associate Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology

      djia@kennesaw.edu
      (470) 578-6158
      SC 522

    • Assistant Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology

      slee295@kennesaw.edu
      (470) 578-2794
      SL 3004

    • Professor of Biology

      kmensawi@kennesaw.edu
      (470) 568-3071
      SL 5060

    • Associate Vice President for Research Operations and Professor of Biology

      snowak@kennesaw.edu
      (470) 578-7777
      SL 4006

    • Assistant Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology

      jwardwel@kennesaw.edu
      (470) 578-6158
      SC 525

    • Associate Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology

      myoshina@kennesaw.edu
      (470) 578-6604
      SC 503

  • Name
    Position

    • Assistant Professor of Psychology

      ehollid1@kennesaw.edu
      (470) 578-7820
      SO 4010

Bridges Scholars

    • Albert Campbell - Saint-Louis Lab
      • Albert Campbell is a native of Atlanta, GA and received his B.S. degree in Biochemistry from ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ State University (²ÝÁñÊÓƵ) in May 2022. As an undergraduate student, he conducted research in Dr. Saint-Louis’s laboratory focused on the Molecular Design and Synthesis Strategies for Tuning the Emission of Azaborines chromophores to Red- and Near-Infrared Wavelengths to be used in electroluminescent devices. He is continuing his work for his Master’s in Chemical Sciences thesis focusing on the Molecular Design, Synthesis, and Application of 2,5-bis(2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethynyl)thiophene Photolabile Protecting Groups for the Synthesis of Hydroxamic Acids. Al’s long-term goals are to earn a Ph.D. in the fields of pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry by synthesizing novel compounds that have extensive biomedical applications.
    • Sade Thomas - Hudson Lab
    • Brittney Owens  - Glover Lab
    • Kendra Fick - Griffin Lab
    • Amber Baldwin, MSIB '22, Hudson Lab. Bridged to University of West Virginia.
    • Georgette-vanelle Wandji, MSIB '22, Nowak Lab. Bridged to Boston University.
    • Amani Gaddy, MSCB '22, Leeper Lab.  Bridged to Morehouse SOM, .
    • Samantha Gibson, MSIB '22, Nowak Lab.
    • Lorenna Garcia-Bochas, MSIB '21, Sterling Lab. .
    • Morgan Woods, MSIB '21, Sterling Lab.
    • Azeeza Abdulrauf, MSIB '21, Taglialatela Lab.  Bridged to Augusta University, Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. program.
    • Quinesha Williams, MSIB '21, Smith Lab.  Bridged to the University of Mississippi Medical Center, .
    • Sidney Stuckett, MSIB '21, Hudson Lab.  Bridged to the University of Mississippi, Dept. of BioMolecular Sciences, .
    • "Nana" Akua Acheampong, MSIB '21, Smith Lab.  Bridged to
    • , MSIB '20, Griffin Lab. Bridged to . Awarded Osbourne Assistantship.
    • Brandon Stewart, MSIB '20, Ganser Lab.  Research Specialist at Emory University.
    • Janasha Goffigan-Holmes, MSIB '20, Ganser Lab. Research Specialist. 
    • , MSIB '18, Hudson Lab. Bridged to .
    • , MSIB '17, Hudson Lab. Bridged to 
    • Aaron Ledet, MSCB '17, Smith Lab. Bridged to U.
    • , '19, Ganser Lab. Bridged to .
    • Maleek Montgomery, MSCB '18, Tapu Lab. Bridged to 
    • Dr. Verra M. Ngwa-Neba, Ph.D.  MSCB '16, McMurry Lab. Bridged to Vanderbilt Cancer Biology Ph.D. Program.   Defended 2022.
    • , MSIB, '19. Sterling Group. Bridges to .
    • , MSIB '16, Smith Lab. Bridged to . 
    • Dr. , MSIB, '17, Ganser Lab. Bridged to . Defended May 2022.
    • , MSIB , '19, Chrestensen Lab. Bridged to University of Florida Ph.D. Program
    • Mareena Whisby-Pitts, MSIB '18, Griffin Lab. Bridged to .
    • Michael Woods, MSIB '20, Morris/McMurry Lab. Bridged to . Awarded a Dean's Distinguished Fellowship.
    • , MSIB '18, McMurry Lab. Bridged to .