Enhancing Biomedical Training and Diversity Through Skills Development, Community, and Outreach

Over the course of one year, fellows will participate in in-person and virtual activities to become part of a supportive peer community; develop important career planning, mentoring, and scientific and interpersonal communication skills and products; and connect with role models from diverse backgrounds.

Application period for YCA 2024 has closed

Program Components

The YCA program is guided by three main pillars: (1) planning, (2) mentoring, and (3) communication. The activities under each pillar are designed to prepare you to successfully transition to a post-PhD position that matches your career goals, interests, and values and to develop skills that will be of value at every stage of your  scientific career:

1. Planning: Figuring out your next steps at the same time as finishing experiments and writing a thesis can be daunting and requires planning and reflection. We will demystify the post-PhD transition process and you will receive training and individualized feedback to help you reflect on your ideal post-PhD position  and develop an actionable agenda for the transition. 

2. Mentoring: Advising relationships and needs change and evolve as a scientist develops. We will provide mentoring-up training to help you manage your existing mentoring relationships and establish new ones for a successful PhD to post-PhD transition. In addition, we will connect you with a supportive   community of peers from similar backgrounds who will be a source of encouragement and advice. Finally, advisors of YCA Fellows will be invited to  participate in a brief optional program to refine their ability to support trainees from underrepresented backgrounds, gain access to resources that will benefit them and their institutions and get recognition for their commitment to diversity and inclusion. 

3. Communication: The ability to communicate your research and who you are as a scientist to experts and non-experts is an integral part of your success in science. YCA Fellows will develop a personal narrative, receive training in scientific presentation skills, and be supported to make their public engagement more meaningful and effective.

Application period for YCA 2024 has closed

The Yale Ciencia Academy is funded by grant R25GM114000 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)