Boosting Retention, Interest, and Diversity through Guided Experiences in STEM (BRIDGES) is a National Science Foundation-funded program that provides laboratory training for recent graduates of Alabama’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities whose studies were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The fellows will spend a year in a HudsonAlpha research laboratory learning laboratory and computational skills and participating in professional development opportunities.
Continue reading to meet five of the first cohort of BRIDGES Fellows.
Jaelei Mosley
Bachelor of Science in Biology with a concentration in Health Sciences | Alabama A&M University
Why did you decide to apply for the BRIDGES fellowship? I was originally on the path to dental school, but taking science lab courses at Alabama A&M and working in a lab at an urgent care caused me to switch gears. I knew this program would be a great opportunity to learn from scientists and receive professional guidance while exploring my lab research interests.
What do you hope to gain from this experience? I hope to gain more surety while working in a lab, from basic skills and techniques to research processes. It takes many people in various positions to make scientific discoveries come to fruition; I’m interested in the day-to-day functionality of these different roles. I would also like to gain more insight into biotechnology through mentorship and networking with knowledgeable people here at HudsonAlpha.
What inspired you to pursue a career in the STEM field? Although mathematics has always generally been my favorite subject, I am more curious about the intricate processes of the human body. I aim to work towards solving scientific challenges that do not always have a straightforward answer or an answer at all.
What are your current plans after your BRIDGES fellowship? I am interested in pursuing an area of science in graduate school or in the science industry.
Elijah Nix
Bachelor of Science Biology | Alabama A&M University
Why did you decide to apply for the BRIDGES fellowship? To gain more lab experience before attending a graduate program to further my education.
What do you hope to gain from this experience? More experience in different disciplines such as wet lab, computational, fieldwork, and publishing experience.
What inspired you to pursue a career in the STEM field? I love to learn new things, and I love the fact that science is evolving every day – there’s always something new to learn, so nothing gets stale.
What are your current plans after your BRIDGES fellowship? Attend a graduate program at Auburn University or the University of Georgia to obtain my Ph.D. in plant pathology.
Quanesha Presley
Bachelor of Science Biology and Computer Science | Stillman College
Why did you decide to apply for the BRIDGES fellowship? My School Advisor recommended the program to me.
What do you hope to gain from this experience? I hope to gain knowledge I didn’t know and hopefully enjoy this experience so much that I will make a career out of it.
What inspired you to pursue a career in the STEM field? I was inspired to pursue a career in STEM because I wanted to be able to research and find new studies that aren’t easily found in textbooks or articles.
What are your current plans after your BRIDGES fellowship? My plan after BRIDGES is to apply to Auburn University and pursue my master’s in Biotechnology.
Marshae Scott
Bachelor of Science Biology, Master of Science Molecular Biology & Genetics | Alabama A&M University
Why did you decide to apply for the BRIDGES fellowship? To gain access to experience in the lab to better distinguish if I want to pursue a more laboratory- or clinic-based career in medicine.
What do you hope to gain from this experience? I hope to learn some cool techniques and garner as much information as possible from the amazing and intelligent researchers who work here. I plan to carry those lessons with me throughout medical school and practice as a physician to contribute to the world of medicine and science, particularly in human disease and genetics.
What inspired you to pursue a career in the STEM field? I actually became interested in medicine after reading the book about Phineas Gage. This book sparked my initial curiosity in brain science, human behavior, and diseases of the brain.
What are your current plans after your BRIDGES fellowship? Medical school! I hope to attend UAB as I love their program, but as of now, medical school is the next stop on my list.
Joshua Stanley
Bachelor of Science Biology | Alabama A&M University
Why did you decide to apply for the BRIDGES fellowship? To gain more lab experience in preparation for a graduate program doing research.
What do you hope to gain from this experience? I expect to gain great confidence in my work and connections in the agscience fields.
What inspired you to pursue a career in the STEM field? My curiosity led me to STEM. I was a naturally curious kid, always finding some questions to ask or some gadgets to fix.
What are your current plans after your BRIDGES fellowship? Graduate school.
Boosting Retention, Interest, and Diversity through Guided Experiences in STEM (BRIDGES) is supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Number 2225832.
