Developing / Building / Running Successful Bridge Programs

Georgia Tech Chemical Engineering Bridge Program

Director: Carson Meredith;  Co-director: Martha Grover

The GT-EQUAL Bridge Site at Georgia Tech enrolls Bridge Fellows for a thesis MS degree in chemical engineering. The fellows receive funding, tutoring, and mentoring to prepare for success in a PhD chemical engineering program. Students are matched with a thesis advisor prior to enrolling at Georgia Tech.

University of Wisconsin-Madison Chemistry Bridge Program

Co-directors: Robert Hamers and Desiree Bates

The UW-Madison Bridge program is a 21-month program leading to a Research M.S. Degree, with the possibility of transitioning into the Ph.D. program during the second year. Our program builds our Catalyst peer monitoring program and links it with flexible coursework and a strong research component to prepare students for Ph.D.-level study. 

The Ohio State University Physics Bridge Program

Co-directors: Jay Gupta and Jon Pelz

The Ohio State University (OSU) Physics Bridge Program was established in 2013 in affiliation with the American Physical Society (APS) Bridge program, and has accepted about 3 new bridge students each year since then. Our program provides substantial active-learning academic support for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses developed by our Physics Education Research group, substantial multifaceted mentoring, and cutting-edge research opportunities in Atomic, Molecular, and Optical (AMO) Physics, Astrophysics, Biophysics, Condensed Matter Physics, High-Energy Physics, Nuclear Physics, and Physics Education Research, as well as a wide range of interdisciplinary research areas.

The Ohio State University – Chemistry Bridge Program

Director: Thomas Magliery;   Co-directors: Anne Co and Psaras McGrier

The OSU Chemistry Bridge Program is a one-year post-baccalaureate program that helps students prepare for graduate school in chemistry, with transfer either to the Chemistry Ph.D. or M.S. program at the end of the year.  An important goal of this program is to build up students’ fundamental knowledge and skills so they can be successful in a Ph.D. program.  The focus of the program is a mix of undergraduate and graduate coursework, mentoring, peer community, and research experience.

Indiana University Physics Bridge Program

Director: Jon Urheim Co-Directors:  Garfield Warren, Rex Tayloe

Brief Description: An APS Bridge Site since 2015, Indiana University features a customized and strongly mentored program of coursework, research and professional development leading to the MS degree after one or two years, with the possibility of transition into our PhD program.

Key opportunities include a wide array of laboratory courses and forefront research activities in Atomic Physics/Quantum Information, Biophysics, Condensed Matter Physics, Elementary Particle Physics, and Nuclear Physics, as well as in many interdisciplinary areas, and close coordination with the IU ACS Bridge Program in Chemistry.

U Mass Amherst Bridge Program in Geology

Co- Directors: Michele Cook, Stephen Burns

Description: The department of Geosciences at UMass Amherst joined the AGU Bridge program in 2019 and have enrolled several students. Our MS program has several tracks that allow students customize their paths towards either a terminal MS or onto a PhD program. Our first year seminars for incoming graduate students demystifies the academic, disciplinary and department norms while also developing a cohort students can rely on as they navigate graduate school.