The BRIDGE Program educates, mentors, and supports a diverse and talented workforce equipped to improve population health, reduce health disparities, and advance health equity locally and globally.
- BRIDGE is for students and trainees at the undergraduate or graduate level who are under-represented in scientific research.
- BRIDGE scholars will receive didactic training, research experience, transition support with a faculty mentor, networking opportunities with BRIDGE program alumni, and financial support for career development and academic excellence.
BRIDGE Provides Four Benefits:
Training
Attend the Duke Population Health Summer Institute (100% tuition scholarship) and take part in professional development courses that include:
- Scientific manuscript writing
- Systematic literature review
- Graduate and medical school applications
- Professional CV and resume development
- Elevator pitches and transition to introductory emails
Mentored Research
Participate in hands-on research activities with mentorship from top faculty and researchers. Faculty mentors provide:
- One-on-one training in a research internship or fellowship
- Support for preparing and submitting scientific publications and external grant funding
Professional Development
Grow your career in a supportive environment and learn critical skills for advancement, including:
- Job search strategies
- Networking and salary negotiation
- Interviewing skills
Transition Support
Get decision-making support that will help advance your career. These include:
- Continued graduate education
- Job placement
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must have a record of superior academic achievement and meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Come from a background that is under-represented in graduate study
- Demonstrate a sustained commitment to diversity through work or volunteer experience, student leadership, or participation with community organizations. This may include efforts to reduce health, social, educational, or economic disparities based on race, ethnicity, or gender
- Experience financial hardship as a result of family economics
- Be a first-generation U.S. citizen or first generation in their family to graduate from a four-year college or university
Application Deadline
The deadline to apply for the BRIDGE Program is March 31, 2023
How to Apply
Email a 500-word personal statement, about how the BRIDGE Program will facilitate your training and career development. Specify any past research experience, current area of focus/interest, and plans for the next step of your training/career.
Review DPHS faculty profiles and in your personal statement identify a Duke Pop Health faculty member whose research closely aligns with your career goals and how this faculty’s mentorship will facilitate your career and research.
For more information regarding the BRIDGE program, please contact Marcie George
Program Timeline
The program runs through June 1, 2023, and ends May 31, 2024.
Program Directors
- Hayden Bosworth, Ph.D.; Vice-Chair, Education
- Tomi Akinyemiju, Ph.D.; Vice-Chair, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
BRIDGE Scholars Frequently Asked Questions
For the time being, the program is conducted remotely.
The BRIDGE Program is open to both undergraduate and master's applicants.
Currently, it is one year with a start date of June 1 through May 31.
Individual mentors may provide funds, but this is dependent on available resources the mentor may have.
That is the goal, but this depends on what is determined between the scholar and the mentor.
No.
We have not included PhD students in the past, but students at all levels are encouraged to apply.