5,000+

Name: Luis Colon-Perez,
Period of Participation: Undergraduate August 2006 – August 2008;
Date of Graduation: B.S. in Physics, 2008
Current Status: MRI research, UF – BD Fellow
Personal Statement: The Bridge to the Doctorate support has greatly influenced my success in my first
two years of graduate school at UF. In those past two years I have been very relieved by the financial
stability the BD fellowship gave me. Near the conclusion of my second year of graduate studies
Name: Ira Hill
Period of Participation: BD August 2008 – Present
Date of Graduation: B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, 2008
Current Status: I have completed my third year as a Ph.D. student and finished my qualifying exam.
Now I am preparing to give my thesis proposal. My research is to use robotics in biomechanics, with a
focus on improving our understanding of the human cervical spine.
Personal Statement: The FGLSAMP Program provides a support network and financial stability to
make the transition into graduate work much easier.
Name: Mark Cunningham
Period of Participation: BD August 2008 – Present
Date of Graduation: B.S. in Biology, 2008
Current Status: Currently, I'm a doctoral candidate in the department of Physiology and Functional
Genomics
Personal Statement: What I love most about this FGLSAMP is the chance to interact with other
graduate students and undergrads. Talking to other grad students gives me the chance to build and
expand my network and gain new friends.
Name: Dayne West
Period of Participation: BD August 2008 – Present
Date of Graduation: B.S. in Chemistry, 2008
Current Status: Currently on PhD track in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Florida. I recently
passed my qualifying exams and I am scheduled to finish the Ph.D. program the end of this year.
Personal Statement: FGLSAMP has provided me with the opportunity to meet other minority students
pursuing graduate degrees. It is more comforting knowing there are other students of various ethnic
backgrounds. I am able to meet other Ph.D. graduates and professionals and receive excellent advice
and guidance.
Name: Brian Damit
Period of Participation: BD August 2008 – Present
Date of Graduation: B.S. in Meteorology, 2008
Current Status: I am currently a 4th year PhD candidate and hope to graduate in Fall 2012. After
graduation, I plan on working as a postdoc at a national lab or in industry.
Currently I am working on research in air pollution. Via development of control devices for airborne
pathogens and also testing cutting-edge air filtration media.
Personal Statement: Without the BD program’s support and assistance, I would have had great difficulty
matriculating through a STEM Ph.D. program.
Name: Christian Grant
Period of Participation: Undergraduate August 2003 – August 2008; BD August 2008 – Present
Date of Graduation: B.S. in Computer Engineering, 2008
Current Status: I am currently a Ph.D. student in computer science. I passed my two written qualifiers,
and I am a Ph.D. candidate. I am currently funded by the National Science Foundation Graduate
Research Fellowship.
Personal Statement: The Bridge to Doctorate program has allowed me a great deal of freedom in my
academic pursuits.. Additionally, I was able to spend some of my time, independent from an advisor,
publishing a paper with people I met while at IBM. .
Name: Jeremy Magruder
Period of Participation: Undergraduate August 2008 – August 2010; BD 2010 – Present
Date of Graduation: B.S. in Civil Engineering, 2010
Current Status: The Bridge to the Doctorate Program
Personal Statement: The staff of the FGLSAMP BD Office at UF is phenomenal at helping students
persevere through graduate school. They have helped guide me through the complexities of the graduate
school process every step of the way. With workshops on professional development, funding, and life
skills,
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