Supporting Historically Black Colleges & University Students on Their Path to Doctorate

By Sierra Nance Postdoctoral Fellow, Molecular & Integrative Physiology

My journey to PhD started at Winston Salem State University – a small Historically Black College & Univeristy (HBCU) in North Carolina. While there, I found my passion for research and came to appreciate the history and legacy of HBCUs. It was at my HBCU where I learned what a PhD was and had my first biomedical science research experience. Eventually my path landed me at the University of Michigan where I’m currently finishing up my PhD in Molecular & Integrative Physiology (March 2023). Transitioning from a HBCU to a PWI where I was the minority, not just being a Black woman in this space, but coming from an HBCU, was difficult. Academically I was prepared; however, there were still some things that made my transition and time in graduate school difficultbringing on feelings of imposter syndrome, isolation, and frustration. I knew this was a shared experience among other Black students at similar institutions, so I channeled this shared experience with my passion for increasing diversity in STEM to develop HBCUDAP, Inc (www.hbcudap.com) with the help of two of my colleagues, Tony Larkin PhD and Nnamdi Edokobi, PhD.

While HBCUs continue to produce a significant number of Black graduates with a BS in STEM, Black people account for less than 2% of all awarded STEM doctoral degrees in the U.S. One potential source for this disparity includes limited access to resources and knowledge of career paths outside of professional school. HBCU-DAP, Inc contributes to filling that gap by providing resources, mentorship, and support for HBCU students pursuing a research-intensive PhD in STEM. The idea for HBCU-DAP, Inc started as just an idea to help prepare HBCU students for a graduate program at a predominantly white institution but has developed into a 501c3 non-profit organization that has been operating for four years in July. We created a Virtual Workshop Series educating students on the PhD process, building a strong application, how to get research experience before applying to grad school, how to prepare for an interview, choosing the BEST FIT program for them, and transitioning from an HBCU to a PWI. Additionally, we provide resources for mental health support and have hosted Conversations for Wellness, a live virtual research talk and discussion on graduate student mental health. We also offer application review as well as 1-on-1 and group mentoring. We have been invited to speak with students at Winston Salem State University, University of Michigan, Purdue University, and most recently held two sessions with the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS) Online platform.

As co-founder and Executive Director, I ensure the team's goals align with HBCU-DAP's mission, create content for our Virtual Workshop Series, mentor students, and manage our business relationships. We have enjoyed partnering with institutions and conferences that support our mission and are grateful for the individuals that have advocated on our behalf and provided financial support. Supporting students from HBCU’s in spaces where we are historically underrepresented is a significant need and we look forward to forging new working relationships and expanding our team. For anyone who would like to connect, we are easy to find through our website (www.hbcudap.com) or Instagram (@ hbcudap).