Science & Medicine Graduate Research Scholars (SciMed GRS) Program

College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS),

School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH)

Dr. Birl Lowery, SciMed GRS Director

Abbey Thompson, SciMed GRS Coordinator

History of SciMed GRS

•Fall 2005: Biological Sciences Strategic Planning Committee started BioGRS/SciMed GRS initiative

•June 2006: Proposal presented to BioDeans

•Selection of SciMed GRS Director, Dr. Sara Patterson (Horticulture)

History of SciMed GRS cont.•Fall 2007: Creation of SciMed GRS

Advisory Committee▫17 faculty members from CALS and SMPH▫2 Graduate School Representatives

•Fall 2007: Official name change from BioGRS to SciMed GRS

•February 2008: SciMed GRS Coordinator (Abbey Thompson) hired

History of SciMed GRS cont.

• Spring 2008: Advance Opportunity Fellowship (AOF) for 2008-09 awarded through SciMed GRS, SciMed GRS hosts Community Events for continuing students

• August 2008: Dr. Birl Lowery (Soil Science) named SciMed GRS Director during Sara Patterson’s absence

History of SciMed GRS cont.

• Fall 2008: SciMed GRS welcomes first cohort of 18 students from 12 departments and programs

SciMed GRS Graduate Programs & Departments• Agriculture and Applied Economics* • Agroecology †• Agronomy • Animal Science • Bacteriology †• Biochemistry (Integrated Program in

Biochemistry)* †

• Biological Systems Engineering • Biophysics • Cellular & Molecular Biology*† • Cellular & Molecular Pathology*† • Dairy Science • Endocrinology-Reproductive Physiology* † • Entomology • Food Science* • Forest & Wildlife Ecology • Genetics †

• Horticulture • Landscape Architecture • Life Sciences Communications*† • Medical Microbiology & Immunology • Medical Physics*† • Microbiology *†• Molecular & Cellular Pharmacology† • Molecular & Environmental

Toxicology*†• Neuroscience Training Program* • Nutritional Sciences† • Oncology (Cancer Biology) • Physiology† • Plant Breeding & Genetics† • Plant Pathology† • Population Health *†• Soil Science†

* new SciMed GRS student † continuing AOF/SciMed GRS student

Justification• Need to train sufficient numbers of

underrepresented minority students in CALS and SMPH

• Successful models on campus Engineering – GERS L & S – C-GRS Education – EdGRS

Mission of SciMed GRS

•To sustain and enhance recruitment and retention of Underrepresented Minority (URM) students to graduate programs in CALS and SMPH at UW-Madison

Improve Recruiting of URM Students•SciMed GRS attendance at national

undergraduate minority focused conferences:▫ Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and

related Sciences (MANRRS)▫ Society for Advancement of Native Americans,

Chicanos in Sciences (SACNAS)▫ National McNair Research Conference▫ Annual Biomedical Research Conference for

Minority Students (ABRCMS)

Improve Recruiting of URM Students•SciMed GRS works to enhance and

facilitate recruiting efforts of URM in the CALS and SMPH through centralized communication and coordination of recruiting opportunities.▫ Distributes recruiting announcements, deadlines,

and requests for program materials to share at recruiting conferences.

Improve Retention of URM Students: Establish Community through Career Development & Social Activities

▫Spring 2007: Events with continuing students: Coffee Hours, Student Dinner, Picnic Potluck

Improve Retention of URM Students: Establish Community through Career Development & Social Activities

▫Fall 2008: Orientation &

Welcome Dinner Professional

Development Workshops & Community Events (approx. every 3 weeks during fall semester)

SciMed GRS Budget

•Graduate Coordinator–CALS-SMPH•Recruiting Funds—Graduate School

•Community Events—CALS•AOF Allocation—Graduate School•Future Funding

SciMed GRS Program Contact Info•Dr. Birl Lowery, SciMed GRS Director

▫blowery@wisc.edu

•Abbey Thompson, SciMed GRS Coordinator▫akthomp1@wisc.edu▫608.890.2308

•Website:http://www.cals.wisc.edu/gradstudies/gradscholars/