Welcome!

A Welcome from the NU Bridge Program Director

Welcome to the website of the Chicago State University – Northwestern University Master to the Ph.D. Bridge Program. Established in 2003, this unique program is funded by the National Institute of General Medical Science to facilitate the transition of undergraduate students from diverse academic and socio-economic backgrounds into Ph.D. graduate studies in the Life Sciences at first-tier Ph.D.-granting institutions.

Students enter the master’s degree program at Chicago State University, where they complete a core curriculum, electives, and a master’s thesis project. They are also assigned a research rotation for one quarter in the laboratory of their choice at Northwestern University. As part of this rotation, students will complete a research project and enroll in a graduate-level course providing them with a taste of academic life in a Ph.D.-granting institution.

Features of the program include waiver of tuition at both Chicago State and Northwestern Universities, health insurance, a research assistantship, support for travel to scientific meetings, and extensive interactions between Bridge students and faculty members within both institutions. Faculty, internationally recognized for their scientific accomplishments are eager to mentor and  train students using   cutting-edge technology in a broad range of disciplines including  pharmacology, neuropharmacology, drug discovery, cell molecular biology, developmental biology, structural biology, endocrinology, cancer research, neurobiology of mental disorders and circadian biology,  to name just a few.  A supportive group of   faculty, students, and administrators are committed to advancing cultural diversity at our schools and beyond.  Moreover, students are afforded the opportunity to live and work in Chicago, one of the most diverse and exciting cities in the country.

We are very proud of our ability to integrate students from diverse backgrounds into the social and academic life of Chicago State and Northwestern Universities. We are proud and excited about the achievements of past Bridge students who have gone on to enroll into prestigious  Ph.D. programs in the Life Sciences at institutions such as Northwestern University and the University of Illinois at Chicago. 

We would be happy to answer any questions you might have about the program.  We are looking forward to receiving your application and working with you to meet your goals towards obtaining a doctorate degree.

Sincerely,

Dr. Margarita L. Dubocovich

Professor of Molecular Pharmacology and Biological Chemistry, and
         Psychiatry and Behavioral Science
Program Director, CSU – NU Bridge to the PhD Program

Greetings from the CSU Coordinator
for the Bridge To The Doctorate Program

The Chicago State University – Northwestern University Bridge to the Doctorate Program takes advantage of one of the many strengths of the Department of Biological Sciences’ MS program at CSU: Our role as a department known for its commitment to providing a quality blend of classroom instruction and research experience for a diverse array of students. One of the primary missions of our MS program is to develop students who are subsequently successful in gaining admission into quality PhD programs in the life sciences. Our ability to do this has been greatly enhanced through our strong relationship with Northwestern University, especially in the establishment of a formal Bridge to the Doctorate Program in 2003.

We recognize that many students with the desire, drive, and capability to earn a PhD degree may have been unable to attain the requisite GPA, GRE scores, or research experience during the pursuit of an undergraduate degree. We also recognize that this is often due to factors having little to do with academic potential. The purpose of our Bridge Program is to allow these students an opportunity, in an environment of support and mentoring, to perform at a high level in coursework, complete a thesis research project, and prepare for success on the GRE.

In recent years, we have been very successful in sending students on to quality PhD programs following the receipt of an MS degree from our department. Several of these students have continued on to Northwestern University. Our stated goal is to have 100% of our Bridge Program students be accepted into at least one quality PhD program upon completion of the program. We strive to do whatever we can to foster success in each student’s experience. We do this by offering quality, challenging courses; meaningful research experiences with good faculty mentors; special workshops and seminars; and a one-quarter rotation at Northwestern University for the purpose of gauging the student’s competitiveness in a PhD program.

Our relationship with Northwestern University faculty, students, and Graduate School administrators has significantly enhanced our MS program, in a variety of ways. We are excited to have an opportunity to partner with Northwestern University in our joint goal of increasing the number of underrepresented students who earn a PhD.

I sincerely hope that you will become one of this growing number of students.

Mark A. Erhart
Professor of Molecular Biology
Coordinator, CSU – NU Bridge to the PhD Program

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