Using professional coaching to help underrepresented biomedical Ph.D. students succeed
Official title: Investigation of Professional Coaching as an Intervention to Support the Success of URG Biomedical Ph.D. Students
Funded at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences · NIH-10910172 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how personalized coaching can help underrepresented biomedical Ph.D. students feel more confident, set clear goals, and tackle challenges in their studies, all while aiming to improve their mental health and academic success.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $680,413 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM151687-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10910172 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are underrepresented minority students pursuing a Ph.D. in biomedical fields.
✕Less likely to help
Students who are not pursuing a biomedical Ph.D. or who do not identify as part of an underrepresented group may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the effectiveness of individualized professional coaching as a support system for underrepresented biomedical Ph.D. students. The coaching aims to enhance self-awareness, clarify academic aspirations, and develop actionable plans to overcome challenges in their academic journey. By focusing on improving self-efficacy and mental health, the study seeks to provide a structured intervention that could lead to better academic outcomes and reduce feelings of anxiety and depression among these students. The approach is novel as it rigorously tests coaching specifically tailored for biomedical Ph.D. students, filling a significant gap in existing knowledge.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved academic success and mental well-being for underrepresented biomedical Ph.D. students.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research in various academic settings has shown that professional coaching can improve self-efficacy and mental health, suggesting potential success for this approach in the biomedical field.
Where this research is happening
-
Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Millonig, James H. — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Millonig, James H.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.