The Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) is a $1.25 million grant that goes towards providing new opportunities for typically underrepresented graduate students in biomedical science. Funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the IMSD program at the Indiana University School of Medicine Graduate Division provides a $31,500/year research fellowship to three new students per year who each have two year long appointments. In addition to the yearly stipend, students receive 100% tuition and mandatory fee waiver, travel funds, and childcare support.
The training elements of the program consist of several mentoring and development opportunities:
Integrative Mentoring
- Mentoring Committee works parallel to the student’s research committee
- Peer-to-Peer Mentors meet regularly with trainees
- Research mentor completes mentor training
Writing for Success
- F830: Experimental Design & Grant Writing Course
- Grant Writing Bootcamp
- Writing Accountability Group
Bioinformatics
- 6-week series featuring dialogical lectures, recorded modules, and hands-on demos
- Topics: next-generation sequencing, RNA-seq, visualization of data sets, and single-cell analysis among others
- Optional course to expand skillset
Professional Development
- Workshop on Establishing Your Ideal Thesis Committee
- Individualized Development Plan
- Preparation for qualifying exams
This grant provided by the NIH is for five years and can be renewed for an extension of another five years. Applications have closed for the 2023-24 cycle and will be reopened in 2024.