Initiative for Maximizing Student Development

Created in 2013 through a collaboration between the Molecular Genetics and Genomics PhD program and the McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University’s  NIH-funded Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) Program seeks to enhance the recruitment, retention, graduation and career success of DBBS PhD students. Through the creation and organization of over a dozen defined training elements that blend academic training, personal advising, networking, professional development, community outreach, and fun-filled activities, the IMSD program has created a positive, personal, supportive and critical training environment that drives student success and in which students thrive. Supporting over 140 PhD and post-bac students from at least 17 STEM PhD programs and 4 post-bac programs, our IMSD program has become the keystone effort that builds community for DBBS students and helps them succeed. We hope you will join us in our IMSD program as we strive to drive excellence and innovation in graduate education.

Program contacts