Using professional coaching to help underrepresented biomedical Ph.D. students succeed

Investigation of Professional Coaching as an Intervention to Support the Success of URG Biomedical Ph.D. Students

NIH-funded research Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences · NIH-10910172

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 typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionRutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-10910172 on NIH RePORTER

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are underrepresented minority students pursuing a Ph.D. in biomedical fields.

Not a fit: 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.

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 performed: 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

Newark, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.