# The Southwest Idaho Bridges to the Baccalaureate

> **NIH NIH R25** · BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $322,469

## Abstract

The Southwestern Idaho Bridges to the Baccalaureate (SWID B2B) program envisions the creation of an
enduring undergraduate research program in Idaho that supports both the transition of underrepresented (UR)
students from the College of Western Idaho (CWI) community college into biomedical degree programs at
Boise State University and their successful graduation. Based on statistics from our institutional self-
assessments, the SWID B2B program will be established with the long-term goal of increasing the number of
individuals from underrepresented groups in Idaho that pursue research careers in the biomedical sciences.
The short-term goals of this B2B program are to i) increase the number of UR CWI community college students
that transfer to Boise State into biomedical science majors, ii) increase retention and graduation rates for UR
biomedical science transfer students, and iii) prepare UR students for careers in the biomedical sciences. In
steady state, this program will serve hundreds of students per year and include yearly B2B cohorts of 10 UR
students. To accomplish our goals, we request funding for the following three specific aims. Aim 1. Prepare
students for a biomedical research experience. The objective of this aim is to Recruit UR students into the
B2B program, Prepare students for a research experience by offering four courses at CWI relevant to
biomedical sciences, and Mentor and Advise students early and continuously. Aim 2. Engage students in a
biomedical research experience. The objective of this aim is to Immerse community college students in a
biomedical research experience with a faculty mentor/researcher during the summer before they transfer to the
university campus and to Include students in the everyday activities associated with biomedical research and
in the ongoing Boise State Summer Research Community. Aim 3. Provide continued engagement through
continuity. The objective of this aim is to Continually Engage students as they move through their degree
program at Boise State by providing an academic-year research experience and a professional development
course that includes training for RCR and peer mentoring, as well as to Equip students for success after
graduation by providing a senior level seminar course and the opportunity to present their research data
nationally. As studies have demonstrated that undergraduate research experiences like the Bridges program
have an important positive impact on UR groups, we expect that an enduring SWID B2B program will
transform the lives of UR students and improve their success as they move forward into biomedical careers.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10013262
- **Project number:** 5R25GM123927-04
- **Recipient organization:** BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** CHERYL LYNN JORCYK
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $322,469
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-01 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10013262

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10013262, The Southwest Idaho Bridges to the Baccalaureate (5R25GM123927-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10013262. Licensed CC0.

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