# IMSD at Texas A&M University: Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity in Biomedical Sciences

> **NIH NIH T32** · TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $253,024

## Abstract

Project Summary
IMSD at Texas A&M University: Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity in Biomedical Sciences
This proposal is to establish a new IMSD T32 program at Texas A&M University. The overall mission of this
program is to maximize student diversity in biomedical sciences at Texas A&M by focusing on recruitment and
retention of underrepresented minority (URM) populations of trainees seeking a PhD degree who have the skills
to successfully transition into careers in the biomedical research workforce. Funds are requested to support six
pre-doctoral (Ph.D. candidates) URM trainees who are applying to one of the six major biomedical graduate
training programs at Texas A&M University: Medical Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Genetics, Toxicology,
Biochemistry & Biophysics, and Biomedical Engineering. Texas A&M University will match NIH support with six
additional fellowships. This program will serve as a hub for unifying training-oriented diversity initiatives in
biomedical fields and establish a community of URM scholars at Texas A&M. Trainees will benefit from didactic,
research, mentoring and career development elements offered by the existing training programs, and from the
new initiatives focused specifically on this cohort of URM scholars. Our goal is to prepare trainees to function as
independent researchers and/or practitioners in a multidisciplinary setting by providing training in classroom-,
laboratory- and externship-based settings. To achieve this goal we have assembled a team of 40 outstanding
investigators who specialize in diverse biomedical fields. The program will be led by an executive committee of
co-PIs representing Office of Graduate & Professional Studies and participating Colleges (Medicine, Veterinary
Medicine, Engineering, and Agriculture & Life Sciences). The preceptors have strong records of mentoring URM
trainees and obtaining competitive support from Federal, State and other sources. This group is exceptionally
well balanced with respect to expertise, sex, and academic career level. Internal and external oversight will be
provided by eminent scholars with first-hand knowledge of diversity experiences in biomedical training and
employment. Recruitment will be conducted through external advertisement, post-baccalaureate diversity
programs, as well as Texas A&M research experience for undergraduates and masters programs. Support from
this program will be offered only in the first year of the doctoral program at the time when trainees undertake
two laboratory rotations, follow structured core academic curricula of their respective graduate programs, and
participate in regular joint activities as a group. A distinctive feature of the program is a strongly encouraged
hands-on summer (in the 1st year) externship through a broad and diverse network of academic laboratories,
state and federal governmental agencies, as well as industry and non-governmental organizations. Following
the first year, trainee support will shift ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10093105
- **Project number:** 5T32GM135748-02
- **Recipient organization:** TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Candice L. Brinkmeyer-Langford
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $253,024
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-02-01 → 2025-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10093105

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10093105, IMSD at Texas A&M University: Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity in Biomedical Sciences (5T32GM135748-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10093105. Licensed CC0.

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