Georgia Tech Enhancing Science, Technology, EnginEering, and Math Educational Diversity (GT-ESTEEMED) Scholarship and Educational Program is a federally funded initiative by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as an integrated plan and pipeline designed to build future researchers in biomedical engineering and biomedical sciences, recruited from groups that are historically underrepresented in STEM. Underrepresented groups include racial or ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, those from underprivileged backgrounds, as well as the intersections of these categories.
We seek applicants who are ready and excited about pursuing a path towards a Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. in a health sciences/biomedical engineering field. GT-ESTEEMED scholars will receive financial support ($12,000/year) during their freshman and sophomore years to those committed students eager to become part of an elite cohort, which will be given exceptional opportunities and significant obligations on top of the usual curricular load to prepare them for maximal success, high academic achievement, and experiences to set them on a successful track. There is additional funding available to support scholar travel and summer research experiences. After the first two years, GT-ESTEEMED scholars will apply and transition to participate in other programs at Georgia Tech.
GT-ESTEEMED scholars are expected to attend a GT-ESTEEMED specific summer bridge program at Georgia Tech called Building ESTEEMED for two weeks in early June that will introduce scholars to hands-on lab research with open-ended problem solving and cohort building, including a $2000 stipend for award. Then they will participate in the Georgia Tech Summer bridge program CHALLENGE from mid-June through end of July which introduces students to classes and the coursework rigor to prepare freshman for Georgia Tech classrooms.
During the school year, some of the mandatory activities exclusive to GT-ESTEEMED scholars include:
1) Weekly ESTEEMED meetings
2) required cohort study sessions
3) individual and small group meetings with professors
4) extended, mentored laboratory research experiences
5) journal club reading
6) leadership opportunities
7) blogging assignments
8) travel/participation in national scientific research conferences.
The goal of my research is to elucidate the cellular mechanisms and circuit principles that allow subcortical (brainstem) descending pathways to control motor and autonomic functions. At our lab we use a multidisciplinary approach and techniques including optical imaging, optogenetics, electrophysiology, photorelease of caged neurotransmitters, and anatomy.
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The E-Board meets once every two weeks to discuss the important topics such as topics of discussion and potential speakers.
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