LSU Science, Engineering Awarded $1M Federal Grant for New ESTEEMED Program

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Baton Rouge, LA – Zakiya S. Wilson-Kennedy, Associate Dean for Academic Innovation & Engagement at the College of Science, recently secured a significant $1 million R-25 training grant from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) under the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This grant will support educational initiatives to foster a more diverse biomedical research workforce.

The program, titled Enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Educational Diversity (ESTEEMED) Research Education Experiences, focuses on providing early research opportunities for undergraduate students interested in pursuing PhD or MD/PhD degrees and careers in biomedical research.

"Research experiences are often geared towards more advanced students," explains Wilson-Kennedy. "What's exciting about ESTEEMED is that it's specifically designed to give students an early and deep immersion into the scientific community. This will position them for high-level research activities throughout their undergraduate years."

The grant leverages collaboration with College of Engineering professors Cristina Sabliov and Dorin Boldor. "The ESTEEMED program offers a transformative opportunity for LSU freshmen," says Sabliov, highlighting the program's impact. "Early exposure to research will enrich their educational experience and prepare them for future success."

The ESTEEMED program jumpstarts students' research journeys with a summer bridge program before their freshman year. This immersive phase introduces them to academic programming and research opportunities, culminating in the summer after their sophomore year. Participants are then expected to join an Advanced Honors Program.

Spanning two years, the program provides students with honors-level research courses and structured mentorship. By graduation, students will have built a strong portfolio of research experiences and training, presentations, and potential publications and thesis.

“Engaging undergraduates in research through this program will increase student retention rates and overall academic engagement. Students who participate in research often show a higher satisfaction in their educational experience and are more likely to persist in their studies,” says Sabliov.

The LSU ESTEEMED program will focus specifically on training students interested in biomedical research careers in bioimaging and bioengineering. The program features a curated list of mentors, including faculty members from the College of Science and the College of Engineering, as well as faculty from outside LSU where the initial research experiences take place. These mentors represent a wide range of disciplines, including medical physics, bioengineering, chemistry, and biology, ensuring students receive well-rounded support and exposure to diverse biomedical research areas.

Boldor adds that several key aspects contributed to LSU’s strong proposal, including an outstanding group of mentors committed to student success, the cohort model for student progress through the program, and the success of LSU’s current and past NIH training programs.

“We have an excellent group of LSU faculty performing research in the field of bioengineering and bioimaging in particular, not only in the Biological Engineering program but also in the Chemistry, Biological Sciences, and Medical Physics programs. Many of these faculty are in the earlier stages of their career with a contagious youthful energy. All the faculty mentors are very enthusiastic about their work and dedicated to mentoring their students to become the best possible version of themselves,” says Boldor.

“This has been a goal of mine for years,” adds Wilson-Kennedy. “I'm thrilled to have such a supportive community and NIH funding to make it a reality and provide these rich early experiences for students.”