# The Yale Ciencia Academy: Enhancing Biomedical Training and Diversity Through a Peer & Role Model Professional Development Program

> **NIH NIH R25** · YALE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $465,205

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT
Attrition of underrepresented minority (URM) scientists between the PhD and faculty stages presents a major
stumbling block to diversify the biomedical workforce. While multiple factors contribute to this attrition, the
postdoc stands as a critical step that can define academic career outcomes. Even more than their PhD lab,
where a trainee does their postdoc determines their academic productivity and odds of securing a tenure-track
position. Unfortunately, preparation for the PhD to postdoc transition is informal, unstructured and variable, and
presents a unique set of planning, mentoring, and communication challenges. For URM students, these
challenges are compounded, making their attrition much more likely. We propose to adapt and apply the
validated professional development strategies of the Yale Ciencia Academy (YCA) to an unattended transition
that is impacting faculty diversity: the PhD to postdoc transition. Through training interventions that include
practice and modeling, vicarious learning experiences, and peer mentoring interactions, we will make evident
the planning, mentoring, and effective communication complexities required for this transition. Specifically,
students will (a) craft an individual development plan (IDP) that is specific to the PhD to postdoc transition; (b)
master the career planning, mentoring-up and communication skills they need to successfully execute their plan;
(c) produce communication materials for use during postdoctoral interviews and grant submissions; and (d)
cultivate a network of peer mentors, role models, and advisors that can support them through the transition and
beyond. By providing tangible outcomes and skills in career planning, mentoring-up, and communication, we
expect the program will enhance participants’ academic and science communication self-efficacy, scientific
identity and positive outcome expectations, and result in a postdoctoral placement that aligns with their career
goals. A minimum of 16 biomedical URM PhD students will be recruited per year throughout the US for a total
of 64 students over four cohorts. To extend the impact of our program, we will turn most of our trainings into free
video-based modules with accompanying implementation guides, estimated to impact thousands of additional
students. The skills and the know-how developed during this program will allow students to model supportive
mentoring environments and effective career development practices as postdocs and ultimately as faculty,
contributing to more inclusive academic research environments. In the long term, we expect YCA to increase
persistence and the number of URMs in academic research positions.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10048753
- **Project number:** 2R25GM114000-06
- **Recipient organization:** YALE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** DANIEL A COLON-RAMOS
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $465,205
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2015-06-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10048753

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10048753, The Yale Ciencia Academy: Enhancing Biomedical Training and Diversity Through a Peer & Role Model Professional Development Program (2R25GM114000-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10048753. Licensed CC0.

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