DIRECT Program
Are you interested in obtaining a Ph.D. in the biomedical field? Learn more about the Driving Interdisciplinary Research Expertise through Community Building and Training (DIRECT) Program, an NIH T-32 program.
The Driving Interdisciplinary Research Expertise through Community building and Training (DIRECT) Program
aims to develop a pool of well-trained scientists with the technical, operational, and professional skills required to conduct health-related research in an ethically responsible and rigorous manner and to provide them with the knowledge and skills needed to enter careers in the biomedical workforce. The program is funded by the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) Graduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (GRISE) (T32) under Award Number T32GM144924.
Applications for 2025 are closed. Application details for Fall 2026 are coming soon!
Our Trainees
Expand Your Legacy with the DIRECT Program
“Being part of a program specifically designed to enhance professional development through academic training has been a transformative experience. It has equipped me with the tools to apply my academic expertise more effectively in professional settings. There’s truly nothing else like it on campus for Ph.D. students; a unique opportunity that stands apart in its ability to bridge the gap between academic rigor and professional readiness.”
Candace Bolden
DIRECT Trainee & Ph.D. Student
Meet the Team
Soumyajit Majumdar
- Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs, Professor of Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery and Research Professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Marie Barnard
- Associate Professor of Pharmacy Administration and Research Associate Professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Associate Professor of Public Health
Shawnboda Mead
- Vice Chancellor for Access, Opportunity, and Community Engagement
Melissa Rodriguez King
- Program Manager