Application Procedure

The Bridge to the Ph.D. Program in STEM is intended for applicants interested in astronomy, biological sciences, chemistry, earth and environmental sciences, economics, engineering*, physics, and psychology.

Applications for the next cohort of Bridge scholars will be available in February 2020. We will be admitting at least nine new scholars, who will be notified of acceptance no later than June 2020. New scholars must be able to begin working as full-time research assistants by August 2020.

Questions about the Bridge Program can be emailed to Program Director, Dr. Kwame Osei-Sarfo. 

* Engineering consists of any program sponsored by Columbia Engineering. These disciplines include applied physics and applied mathematics, biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering and engineering mechanics, computer science, earth and environmental engineering, electrical engineering, industrial engineering and operations research, and mechanical engineering.

  • Applications will be open from February to April 2020.
  • Interviews will be conducted during the 2nd and 3rd weeks of May. Note, interviews will be conducted via Zoom video conferencing.  
  • Applicants accepted into the fall cohort will be notified during the 1st or  2nd week in June. 
  • Accepted scholars are expected to begin the program during the 1st or 2nd week in August. 
  • Since the admissions committee consists of faculty from multiple STEM disciplines, you should summarize your research experiences so that a general scientific audience can understand your message. It may be beneficial to have a professor outside of your STEM discipline read and critique the research component of your personal statement. 
  • Take a moment to visit the webpages of the faculty whose research interests aligns with yours. 
  • Since requests for the letters of recommendation are sent through the application portal, you should inform your letter writers of your intent to apply while preparing your application. The notifications will be sent to your letters writers once you submit the application, and they have to upload their letters through the application portal. 
  • If possible, try to request letters from advisors/supervisors/mentors who can write about your research skills and scientific curiosity.