IMSD at Wayne State University

The mission of Wayne State University (WSU), to create and advance knowledge, prepare a diverse student body to thrive, and positively impact local and global communities, is very much in line with the goals and vision for the Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) program. Located in Detroit, Michigan, WSU has historically been a stabilizing institution in the City, and is now at the forefront of the revitalization taking place in the region. WSU is committed to driving this growth, and over the last 5 years has recruited over 50 new faculty members in the sciences alone. New faculty are drawn to WSU for various reasons, including the diversity of the region, the exceptional facilities, and the success of our faculty, as evidenced in part by a 30% increase in federal funding since 2014. WSU is well-positioned to request continued support for its successful IMSD program, now transitioning from a R25 to a T32, at the level of 10 graduate students. The goal of the WSU program is to provide targeted training and mentoring that is individualized to meet the needs of a diverse body of graduate students to facilitate successful completion of their Ph.D. degrees. Ultimately, these IMSD students will develop careers in the biomedical sciences, and will go on to serve as mentors to future generations. Trainees will be selected in their first or second year of graduate study and supported for up to two years. The IMSD T32 program will continue to focus on developing and enhancing academic skills and professional career development. IMSD graduate students are integrated into our learning community, and remain active throughout their entire training at WSU, with enhanced opportunities for teaching and mentoring. Specifically, we aim: 1) To provide our graduate students with a structured community to facilitate and enhance professional bonds that will enable each student to learn, develop, and incorporate the skills necessary for a successful future in biomedical careers; 2): To provide a program to enhance individual academic program success coupled with mentored research; and 3): To provide opportunities for peer-to-peer mentoring, near- peer mentoring, and undergraduate teaching experiences in our learning community. These activities are intended to provide opportunities for IMSD student trainees to develop skills in presentation, teaching, and mentoring that will not only maintain their focus on career goals, but also develop professional skills that they will utilize in their future research/academic careers. We propose to build on the successes of our long- established IMSD program with modifications based on an evolving demographic and social culture of our students. This IMSD program will provide academic development and research experience at a large, urban, research institution with a very diverse student population to a more personal level for our trainees.