PROGRAM GOALS

Supporting Black students interested in STEM throughout their undergraduate careers with mentorship and monetary compensation in the form of a stipend, in order to ameliorate some of the barriers that serve to limit their likelihood of pursuing careers in STEM research and medical careers.

1. Improving the retention of Black students in STEM.

2. Increasing the number of Black undergraduate students participating in research at Columbia University. 

3. Improving understanding of racial justice and equity in the STEM community at Columbia University by increasing representation and visibility of early-career Black STEM students.

BACKGROUND

The BUMP Biology program emerged in August 2020 from a collaboration between the Research Cluster on Science and Subjectivity, Biological Sciences Department at Columbia University, the Black Alumni Council at Columbia University, and Biology Trainees Against Exclusion (BTAE). 

This program is led by a steering committee consisting of individuals from across all levels of training and careers who have all shown a commitment to working towards racial justice within the University and beyond: Riley Jones IV, J.D., and Neci Whye, M.S. (BAC Alumni); Raisa Alam, B.A.; Yasmin H. Ramadan, M.S., and Beka Stecky, M.S. (graduate students); Raphael Cohn, Ph.D. (Postdoctoral Research Scientists and Adjunct Lecturer); Robert E. Pollack, Ph.D. (Professor of Biological Sciences and former Dean of Columbia College); and Harmen J. Bussemaker, (Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences). This group has been a key driving force behind the program and has organized all BUMP Biology activities. 

BUMP BIOLOGY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

The mentorship program was launched in January of 2021 with Mentee, Research Mentor, and BAC Career Mentor applications. The first BUMP Mentee cohort consisted of 29 Black undergraduates from Columbia. The second BUMP Mentee cohort consisted of 64 Black undergraduates from Columbia. The Career Mentors were sourced from STEM professionals in the Black Alumni Council (BAC). The Research mentors were sourced from graduate students and postdoctorates from the Biology Department and the Zuckerman Institute. 

Through the mentorship program, BUMP Mentees were assisted with applications for summer internships and research programs and given career-related and personal mentorship. The BUMP mentees and mentors were provided with a code of conduct, a mentee training guide, and a mentor training guide. The BUMP Mentors participate in an annual virtual mentorship training session with an emphasis on cultural competency led by Dr. Dana Crawford.

GRANTS

In November of 2020, the BUMP Biology program was first granted the $5,000 Provost’s Seed Grant for Addressing Racism to expand the mentorship program. 

In August of 2020, the BUMP Biology program was then successfully awarded the 3-year, $85,000 per year grant offered by the Columbia University Faculty of Arts and Sciences, to expand BUMP Biology and fund undergraduate research. 

EVENTS

Since 2020, BUMP Biology has hosted a number of social events meant to foster community between mentors and mentees, as well as faculty advisors of the BUMP Biology program. This has included a career panel, study picnics, and an open house.

In November of 2022, BUMP Biology hosted their first annual Research Symposium at the Zuckerman Institute, attended by faculty and students from all over campus. 12 of our undergraduate students presented their Summer Research in the form of poster presentations. One of these students presented the same poster at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS) later that month in Anaheim, CA, and won an award for their presentation.

RESEARCH SUPPORT

Beginning in March of 2022, the BUMP program began providing funding of up to $2,500 per student per semester ($5000 in the summer) to directly support BUMP mentees engaged in research labs at Columbia University. 

SOCIAL MEDIA AND COMMUNITY BUILDING

We’ve established a strong presence on social media, highlighting our talented mentees and sharing resources and research opportunities on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and a BUMP Biology website. We also have an active Slack server for mentors and mentees to collaborate and network. We have recruited 5 BUMP mentee liaisons (Sylvester Benson, Opeyemi Lekan, Karlton Gaskin, Sarah Boyd, and Liana Dawson) from the first cohort of BUMP mentees to help promote community building within the BUMP mentee cohort through social bonding events and check ins. Furthermore, we have begun establishing formal and informal connections with other groups across campus, including the Zuckerman Institute administration and DEIB Board and several undergraduate clubs and organizations.