By Sky Pinkett
Staff Writer
The National Institutes of Health recently awarded the College a $1.3 million grant to establish the New Jersey Biomedical-Bridge Scholars Program, which will enable Brookdale Community College and Mercer County Community College students to transfer into the College's School of Science to earn degrees in the biomedical field.
Groups of students who have completed two years at BCC or MCCC will have the opportunity to choose courses at the College, with the help of an advisor, as well as connect and collaborate with faculty and other biomedical students in research projects on campus. This will put students on track to complete their bachelor’s degree in just two years after transferring to the College.
This opportunity offers many additional benefits for students who choose to apply, including two paid summer research internship experiences (one within the College and one outside of it), funded travel to scientific conferences to present student research, post-graduation mentorship, and career advice.
“This grant will strengthen our transfer partnerships with BCC and MCCC and provide much-needed resources to reduce obstacles and barriers for these students,” Sunita Kramer, dean of the College’s School of Science, said in a TCNJ News article. “By providing financial and academic support throughout their journey, we can set them up for academic and professional success.”
Leading this initiative at MCCC are professor Patrick Natale and project lead Nichol Killian. According to both of them, they couldn’t be more excited about the program.
“It could be life-changing to have a career in the biomedical field, especially for students who never believed it to be an option,” said Natale, who teaches biology.
Natale and Killian will be hosting an open house in the coming weeks to identify students interested in this opportunity. From there, two students will be picked to accept mentorship, tutoring and additional resources while at MCCC.
NJBB Scholars are also guaranteed financial support through this pathway, including an annual stipend of $14,340 for two years, and up to 60% tuition for a student's second year at MCCC and their first year at the College.
Due to the number of students who rely on working a full time job to facilitate their full-time student status, “offering a stipend will help students work less and study more,” said Killian.
For students who had never before conceived of a career in the biomedical industry, the NJBB initiative offers the chance to gain academic guidance on what specific courses to take while in college. From there, a student’s networking skills and research focus will be refined, according to Natale.
“A lot of times when students transfer, they feel a lack of belonging because they weren’t there for the first two years,” said Killian. “With this grant, they will be working with TCNJ students before they get to TCNJ, so that comfort level and belonging will be with them.”
According to Killian, this sense of belonging that is cultivated by the NJBB program will also help to promote self advocacy within students new to the College, as well as help them combat impostor syndrome.
Handling the program at BCC is biology professor Nancy Cizin. BCC students can expect the same benefits that this program affords students of MCCC. Cizin shares Natale’s and Killian’s excitement over the program.
"I am really excited to partner with professors of TCNJ,” said Cizin. “It is a great opportunity for Brookdale students to have a direct transport portal to a four-year school, and to experience living in a college dormitory before the semester begins."
In thinking beyond NJBB's primary focus on college students, this initiative also aims to facilitate the growth of New Jersey's public health force. Students who succeed in joining that force post-graduation can still expect support from this program
“Post-graduation we're gonna keep in touch with them,” said Natale. “TCNJ is gonna take the lead in getting them in the industry. We're gonna set up a social networking site to keep up with them while at TCNJ.”
