Bridge Sites
To accomplish the goals of the program APS will, over the course of the project, fund a set of Bridge Sites. These bridge sites will host students (APS Bridge Fellows) who, typically would not gain acceptance into a physics doctoral program, to spend a period of 1-2 years after their undergraduate studies enhancing their academic and research skills before applying to a doctoral program.
Key Components
Successful bridge programs share certain interrelated key components, which build on each other to provide students with a complete educational experience, from recruitment and research experiences, to mentoring, application coaching, and progress monitoring through the PhD.
APS Bridge Sites
The APS Bridge Program requests proposals for new bridge sites. A webinar will describe the project, the RFP process, and site selection. The Bridge Program will be selecting sites in Spring 2013.
Existing Bridge Programs
A number of bridge programs already exist for undergraduate students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in physics. These programs are not funded by APS, but share similar program goals and work closely together to achieve the goals of increasing the number of underrepresented minorities that receive Ph.D.s in physics. Descriptions and requirements for these programs are below:
The goal of the program is to enhance the participation of students from underrepresented groups in Ph.D. programs in the natural sciences. To achieve this, the Bridge Program provides an intensive research, coursework, and mentoring experience to post-baccalaureates seeking to strengthen their graduate school applications and to prepare for the transition into Ph.D. programs. |
Program Contact: Summer Ash Assistant Director Bridge to the Ph.D. Program (212) 854-4608 |
Fisk-Vanderbilt: Master-to-Ph.D. Bridge Program
A joint program in astronomy, biology, chemistry, physics and materials science. We are looking for students with the persistence and passion to pursue the training they need to be ready for the Ph.D. The Bridge Program provides something truly unique, a family atmosphere, with caring mentors combined with high-level research. By joining the Fisk-Vanderbilt Bridge Program you will connect with a community of over 60 students, more than 90% of whom have successfully continued on toward the PhD at Vanderbilt and other top institutions and have won major fellowships from NSF, NASA, and the Ford Foundation. |
Program Contact: Dina Stroud Executive Director Fisk Vanderbilt Masters-to-PhD Bridge Program (615) 322-2828 |
A one- or two-year post-baccalaureate program at MIT to facilitate the transition to graduate school. Participation is open to physics students who have completed a bachelor's degree and have participated in the MIT Summer Research Program. The Bridge Program is part of our effort to increase the number of PhDs awarded in physics to underrepresented minority students. Participants take classes, join a research group, and receive mentoring to improve the likelihood for a successful graduate school application to MIT or other schools. |
Program Contact: Krishna Rajagopal Associate Head for Education MIT Bridge Program (617) 253-4827 |
University of Michigan: Applied Physics Imes-Moore Fellows Program
A Master’s degree bridge program designed to prepare students for doctoral studies in interdisciplinary research in applied physics, physical sciences and engineering. This two-year program is designed to strengthen the students’ preparation in the fundamentals of physics and will provide a broad range of research opportunities. Our goal is to bring promising students to the program and prepare them to succeed at the doctoral level in Applied Physics and related fields at the University of Michigan. |
Program Contact: Cynthia McNabb University of Michigan Applied Physics Imes-Moore Fellows Program (734) 936-0653 |
