DIRECT Program
Are you interested in obtaining a Ph.D. in the biomedical field? Learn more about the Diversifying Interdisciplinary Research Expertise through Community Building and Training (DIRECT) Program, an NIH T-32 program.
The Ddiversifying Iinterdisciplinary Rresearch Eexpertise through Ccommunity 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).
About This Program
- DIRECT trainees receive an annual stipend of a minimum of $32,500 for the first three years, fully paid tuition, health insurance, yearly conference travel support (up to $1,000), and yearly reimbursement for childcare costs (up to $3,000). After the completion of the DIRECT Program, the admitting department will provide a stipend at the existing NIH recommended rates, with full tuition support, until degree completion.
- A supportive community of scholars and advisors focused on cohort building, mentoring, and networking.
- Development of academic, scientific rigor, presentation, communication, leadership, and social integration skills through various activities, including five program-specific didactic courses, weekly professional development seminar series, experiential learning, and workshops.
- A paid summer bridge program prior to the first semester of graduate school that focuses on supporting a successful transition into graduate school and the University of Mississippi.
- Exploration of career pathways in the biomedical fields through career development programming.
- Independent research with dedicated mentors.
Applicants must be a citizen or a noncitizen national of the United States or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence at the time of appointment.
Applications from underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged. These groups include but are not limited to Black/African Americans, Latinos/Hispanics, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, Filipinos, Vietnamese; individuals with disabilities, from rural communities, or disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds; first generation college students, and individuals who may be underrepresented based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.
DIRECT Required Didactic Courses:
- Research Methodology & Techniques
- Ethics I
- Navigating Your Research Experience
- Scientific Writing
- Ethics II
In addition to the above-mentioned courses, students must fulfill all graduate program requirements of the admitting department for degree completion.
DIRECT Required activities include:
- Summer Bridge Program & Research/Lab Group Rotation
- Weekly DIRECT Program Seminar Series
- Workshops
- Presentation of research at national and local conferences
- Participation in experiential learning (internships, internships, or site visits)
- Completion of an Original Research Proposal
- Developing and submitting an NIH F31 Fellowship Application by year 3 in the DIRECT Program
- Publishing at least one first-author manuscript prior to graduation
Ph.D. Biological Science
Ph.D. Chemistry
Ph.D. Health & Kinesiology
Emphasis areas: Exercise Science, Health Behavior
Ph.D. Nutrition & Hospitality Management
Emphasis area: Nutrition
Ph.D. Pharmaceutical Sciences
Emphasis areas: Environmental Toxicology, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutics, Pharmacognosy, Pharmacology, Pharmacy Administration
Ph.D. Psychology
Emphasis area: Experimental Psychology
Ph.D. Biological Science
Dr. Joshua Bloomekatz - josh@olemiss.edu
Dr. Sixue Chen - schen8@olemiss.edu
Dr. Patrick Curtis - pdcurtis@olemiss.edu
Dr. Erik Hom - erik@olemiss.edu
Dr. Yongjian Qiu - yqiu@olemiss.edu
Dr. Peter Zee - zee@olemiss.edu
Ph.D. Chemistry
Dr. Saumen Chakraborty - saumenc@olemiss.edu
Dr. Kensha Clark - kmclark8@olemiss.edu
Dr. Penghao Li - penghao@olemiss.edu
Dr. Vig Sundaresan - vsundare@olemiss.edu
Dr. Eden Tanner - eetanner@olemiss.edu
Ph.D. Health & Kinesiology
Emphasis: Exercise Science & Health BehaviorDr. Hannah Allen - hkallen1@olemiss.edu
Dr. Alberto Del Arco Gonzales - adelarco@olemiss.edu
Dr. Jeremy Loenneke - jploenne@olemiss.edu
Dr. Lloyd Wade - cwade@olemiss.edu
Dr. Mary Allison Ford-Wade - ford@olemiss.edu
Ph.D. Nutrition & Hospitality Management
Dr. Yunhee Chang - chang@olemiss.edu
Dr. Georgianna Mann Schroeder - grmann@olemiss.edu
Dr. Melinda Valliant - valliant@olemiss.edu
Dr. Nadeeja Wijayatunga - nadeejaw@olemiss.edu
Ph.D. Pharmaceutical Sciences
Dr. Eman Ashour - eashour@olemiss.edu
Dr. Marie Barnard - mbarnard@olemiss.edu
Dr. Paul Boudreau - boudreau@olemiss.edu
Dr. David Colby - dacolby@olemiss.edu
Dr. Robert Doerksen - rjd@olemiss.edu
Dr. Soumyajit Majumdar - majumso@olemiss.edu
Dr. Vitor Pomin - vpomin@olemiss.edu
Dr. Sujith Ramachandran - sramacha@olemiss.edu
Dr. Gregg Roman - groman@olemiss.edu
Dr. Courtney Roper - clroper@olemiss.edu
Dr. Joshua Sharp - jsharp@olemiss.edu
Dr. James Stewart - jastewa7@olemiss.edu
Dr. Kristine Willett - kwillett@olemiss.edu
Dr. Yi Yang - yiyang@olemiss.edu
Ph.D. Psychology
Emphasis: Experimental PsychologyDr. Sarah Bilsky - sabilsky@olemiss.edu
Dr. Stephanie Miller - semille5@olemiss.edu
Dr. Erica O’Brien - elobrie1@olemiss.edu
Our Trainees
Cohort 1
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
Shawnboda Mead
- Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Community Engagement
Melissa Rodriguez King
- Program Manager