Binghamton University welcomes underrepresented scholars for summer research program
image: Alison Lara of Westchester Community College works with assistant professor of chemistry Huiyuan Guo and PhD student Lynn Terry at Guo's laboratory at the Smart Energy Building in the Innovative Technologies Complex through the SUNY Upstate Bridges to the Baccalaureate program. view more
Credit: Binghamton University, State University of New York
Underrepresented scholars from State University of New York community colleges have arrived at Binghamton University for an eight-week summer research program. The program will culminate with a virtual poster session to be held at 9 a.m. Friday, July 20. The session will allow participants the opportunity to display their research accomplishments using text and graphics.
The scholars, participants in the SUNY Upstate Bridges to the Baccalaureate program, directed by professors Lisa Savage and Patricia Di Lorenzo, are paired with Binghamton University faculty mentors to conduct a variety of experiments and research projects. Four Advanced Bridges Researchers, who are Bridges students who have transferred to Binghamton and are funded for a second summer research experience, will also take part this summer.
This is the 24th year Binghamton University has participated in the SUNY Upstate Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program, which was established to increase the number of underrepresented scholars pursuing and earning baccalaureate degrees in the biomedical sciences. Students accepted into this year’s program are from Monroe, Onondaga and Westchester community colleges.
The program guarantees Binghamton University admission to underrepresented students who have maintained a 2.7 grade point average in science courses and overall at selected community colleges. Such individuals include U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are African American, Hispanic-American, Native-American and natives of the U.S. Pacific Islands, or individuals with disabilities or individuals from a disadvantaged background.
Bridges students receive a combination of mentoring, tutoring and financial support throughout the program, as well as the opportunity for hands-on research in the labs of their Binghamton faculty mentors. Throughout the program, co-coordinators at each of the community colleges work closely with Binghamton staff and faculty to build ties that will lead to student success there and later at a baccalaureate institution.
The program will follow those who return to their community college for another year of courses, and Bridges will support their progress. When they are ready, Bridges will help them transfer to a four-year institution to complete their baccalaureate degree in the sciences.
The program has hosted 397 students in the last 23 years, 92 percent of which have transferred to a four-year institution. Of these students, 86 percent went on to earn a four-year degree. There are currently 193 Bridges students in biomedical fields.
Those students who are ready to transfer will be encouraged to apply for admission to a four-year institution this fall. The program guarantees Binghamton University admission to qualified Bridges students from the participating community colleges.
The Bridges Researchers will attend and present at the virtual University of Buffalo Undergraduate Research conference on July 21-22.