NIH

The MSU BEST Program is supported by the National Institutes of Health and their Broadening Experiences in Scientific Training program. In recognition that a PhD in a biomedical field does not necessarily lead straight to a faculty career, and that many scientists and engineers are interested in non-academic careers, the NIH developed this program to support universities who were interested and able to address this reality in creative and innovative ways.

Michigan State University

Building on the well-recognized strengths of the MSU Graduate School and its comprehensive, holistic approach to supporting graduate students for a variety of careers, the NIH awarded one of 17 grants to Michigan State. The 2014-2015 academic year marked the first year of the MSU BEST program.

The Michigan State University Office of the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies also provided significant support for trainees and mentors. In recognition of the value of professional development programs like BEST, VPRGS provides a small stipend to mentors and trainees to use as they see fit, to complement BEST and their individual research goals.

Best Consortium

MSU is one of 17 campuses with a BEST grant, and the campuses coordinate via the BEST Consortium. As partner institutions, we work together to amplify the impact of our grant efforts, coordinate resources, and share best practices.