Bridges to the Baccalaureate Research Training Program at Howard University and Baltimore City Community College

Howard University, Washington DC

Investigators

Abstract

The Bridges to Baccalaureate (B2B) Research Training Program at Howard University and Baltimore City Community College (BCCC) aims to create a novel, structured pathway for currently and formerly incarcerated individuals to pursue STEM careers through a collaborative prison-to-college-and-STEM pipeline. Each year of the 5-year award, five participants will be selected from the From Prison Cells to PhD (P2P) program following a rigorous selection process. These individuals will begin their academic journey while still incarcerated by engaging in educational readiness through P2P, transition to BCCC upon release to pursue an associate degree, and receive skills and methods training through workshops and mentoring. During the summer between their first and second years at BCCC, scholars will complete a 10-week STEM research internship at Howard University with one of nearly 20 faculty mentors. After completing their associate degree, students will transition to a four-year institution to pursue a BS/BA in a STEM field. The program will enroll a new 5-student cohort each year. Key components of the program include: 1. Skills Development through P2P’s Leadership, College & Professional Readiness curriculum and SAT preparation, followed by research readiness workshops at BCCC. 2. Research Experience through a 10-week internship at Howard University, culminating in presentations at national STEM conferences. 3. Curriculum and Methods enrichment, including a Molecular Techniques course embedded in BCCC’s General Biology curriculum (BTC 105). 4. Recruitment Plan, including prioritization of top P2P participants, outreach via community partnerships and targeted media (e.g., local radio). 5. Retention Plan featuring tuition scholarships (60%), stipends, paid internships, and structured mentoring with opportunities to give back. Partners and Key Personnel include: - Howard University College of Medicine (Lead PI: Dr. Stanley Andrisse) - Baltimore City Community College (Co-PI: Dr. Karol Schaumloffel) - Prison to Professionals (PD: Ms. Caroline Skudrzyk) This cross-sector program integrates research, education, and criminal justice pathways by building a scalable model to support the academic and career success of individuals with justice involvement in biomedical sciences.