UA Receives NSF Grant to Fund Bridge to the Doctorate Program

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama has received a nearly $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation to support a fellowship program for underrepresented minority graduate students studying in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The Bridge to the Doctorate program is administered by the Alabama Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation. Applications are currently being accepted for this fall for 12 fellowships.

The program offers a $30,000 annual stipend for two years and covers full tuition and fees. It also offers a mentoring program, conference and research travel opportunities, seminars and workshops and additional research and networking opportunities.

To be eligible, students must have the following:

• Bachelor’s degree in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics program

• Minimum 3.0 GPA

• Participation in an undergraduate Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation program

• Acceptance into The University of Alabama Graduate School

• Meet the requirements of a department or program in either science, technology, engineering or mathematics

• Be committed to pursuing a doctoral degree in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics discipline

To apply or request additional information about the program, contact UA’s site coordinator Dr. Viola L. Acoff, 205/348-2080 or vacoff@eng.ua.edu. The deadline for applications is Aug. 1.

As one of the six oldest National Science Foundation alliances in the nation, the Alabama Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation strives through its 12 member institutions to increase the quality and quantity of underrepresented minority students completing baccalaureate degrees in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

One doctorate degree granting alliance institution is selected each year as the site for the Bridge to the Doctorate program. UA also was the program site in 2007. Its success that year led it to being selected again.

The alliance includes the following institutions: The University of Alabama at Birmingham (lead institution), Alabama A&M University, Alabama State University, Auburn University, Miles College, Oakwood University, Stillman College, Talladega College, Tuskegee University, UA, The University of Alabama in Huntsville and the University of South Alabama.

Dr. Louis Dale, vice president for equity and diversity at The University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Dr. Carolyn Braswell, associate vice president for equity and diversity at The University of Alabama at Birmingham, wrote the National Science Foundation proposal to bring the two-year Bridge to the Doctorate Program to UA’s campus.