# University of Chicago Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) - Renewal 01

> **NIH NIH R25** · UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO · 2020 · $607,681

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The University of Chicago (UChicago) Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) is designed to
provide research training and educational opportunities for newly admitted PhD graduate students from groups
underrepresented (UR) in the biomedical and behavioral sciences and for non-UR students who would benefit
from IMSD opportunities. The Program is tiered to focus intervention and developmental activities to match the
background preparation, research experience, and learning styles of individual students as well as their stage
of progression in graduate school. Students join the IMSD in the Summer term at the point of entry to graduate
studies, complete an Individual Development Plan (IDP) that will serve as the roadmap for each student's
course over their tenure in the UChicago IMSD, and participate in a “boot camp” that will help integrate them
into the Graduate Programs and prepare them for the rigors of a UChicago graduate education. Navigation
through rotations and coursework, as well as developing communication and coping skills will be facilitated
through Interactive Learning Modules (ILMs) and augmented by peer and faculty mentoring. Support from the
Program is provided for years one and two of graduate school. Students will remain members of the IMSD
program while advancing to completion of the PhD, benefitting from ILMs designed to hone scientific skills,
enhance leadership skills, develop professional and networking skills and explore career options. Although the
Program will be highly structured and logically organized, it also will be customizable depending on each
student's needs. Concomitantly, faculty will be actively engaged to improve their mentoring skills, while all
stakeholders work together toward a more diverse community of scholars. The ultimate success of the IMSD
Program will be measured by completion of the students' PhD programs, their long-term success as
biomedical scientists, and an increase in the diversity of the biomedical research community over time.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9980418
- **Project number:** 5R25GM109439-07
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
- **Principal Investigator:** NANCY B SCHWARTZ
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $607,681
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2014-09-01 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9980418

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9980418, University of Chicago Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) - Renewal 01 (5R25GM109439-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9980418. Licensed CC0.

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