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Get the most interesting and important stories from the University of Pittsburgh.Pitt’s Graduate Studies team received a $1M Sloan Centers for Systemic Change grant
The Graduate Studies team in Pitt’s Office of the Provost received a $1.1 million grant to eliminate barriers for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) doctoral students from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
Following a $250,000 Sloan Centers for Systemic Change seed grant in 2023, this award will provide funding for 36 PhD students and allow the University to continue its work developing and implementing evidence-based policies and practices for improving access to and success in STEM graduate education.
“This award reflects Pitt’s commitment to creating an exceptional graduate student experience,” said Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor Joseph J. McCarthy. “The Sloan Foundation grant will enable us to expand opportunities for talented doctoral students while strengthening mentoring, professional development and community throughout their graduate journey. I congratulate our project team on this outstanding achievement and the lasting impact it will have on graduate education at Pitt.”
The University’s team will be led by Amanda Godley, vice provost for graduate studies; Alydia Thomas, associate director of graduate studies; Bob Parker, associate dean for graduate education in the Swanson School of Engineering; Rosemary Capo, assistant dean for recruiting and belonging for graduate studies in the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences; and Jennifer Iriti, assistant vice chancellor for research education and evaluation strategy and associate director for applied practice and partnerships in the Learning Research and Development Center.
According to Godley, who will serve as principal investigator for Pitt, the award will also help the Graduate Studies team build upon several priority initiatives.
“Like the Sloan Foundation, the University of Pittsburgh is committed to ensuring all PhD students have access to exemplary mentoring and support,” Godley said. “This grant will allow us to grow important initiatives led by Dr. Alydia Thomas, including peer mentoring programs and training faculty leaders across the University to lead mentoring workshops in their schools.”
Mentorship matters
Pitt’s Graduate Studies team offers guidance, resources and best practices to help faculty and graduate students alike foster meaningful mentoring relationships. Explore the full list of resources designed to promote persistence, retention and timely degree completion.
“The Sloan Scholars program removes barriers that too often stand between exceptional students and the doctoral education they have earned, and it asks us to consider how we mentor, support and retain those students for the long term,” noted Michele V. Manuel, U.S. Steel Dean of the Swanson School of Engineering. “I am grateful to Bob Parker and our colleagues across the University for the work that made this award possible, and to the Sloan Foundation and the Social Science Research Council for investing in the next generation of doctoral researchers at Pitt.”
“This grant represents a significant investment in expanding access to and success in STEM doctoral education at a critical moment,” said Adam Leibovich, Bettye J. and Ralph E. Bailey Dean of the Dietrich School. “Supporting a broad range of perspectives and experiences is essential to advancing discovery and innovation, and we must continue to reduce barriers for talented students. We’re proud to have Rosemary Capo contribute to this effort. As a professor in our Department of Geology and Environmental Science and in other service roles at the school, she’s consistently brought exceptional expertise and a longstanding commitment to fostering inclusivity in STEM. Her leadership will be instrumental in supporting the next generation of scholars.”
Along with supporting the University’s Sloan scholars, including offering community-building programming and professional development opportunities throughout the academic year, the team will use the grant to expand recruitment efforts, collect data and track scholar experiences, and spread and scale best practices at Pitt and beyond, with Jen Iriti’s leadership and in partnership with Pitt’s Broadening Engagement in STEM Center.