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Research Partner Profile

Principal Investigator
William B. Russel
Dean, Graduate School
Tel (609) 258-3035
graddean@princeton.edu

Co-Principal Investigator
David N. Redman
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Tel (609) 258-3032
dnredman@princeton.edu

Participating Programs (8)
Electrical Engineering
English
Mathematics
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Molecular Biology
Physics
Politics
Sociology

Abstract
Princeton proposes to study the effects of specific interventions and programs on reducing attrition and increasing Ph.D. completion in selected STEM disciplines and a small number of non-science areas, for two reasons. First, in the disciplines we have chosen, we argue that with additional, carefully monitored efforts, we can either reduce “bad” attrition or increase degree completion, or both, through the activities of this project. Second, we feel that certain features of our graduate programs which are already in place may be helpful or instructive to the overall analysis of what specific factors contribute powerfully to low-attrition, high-output doctoral programs.

Proposed Interventions

Project Activity	Target Department(s)
Early campus visits	All departments except Molecular Biology
Exit interviews	All departments
Dissertation advising and mentoring	All departments except Politics
Workshops for students and faculty	All departments except Politics
Regular discussion groups with students of color and women	STEM disciplines
Scientific and technical writing course	STEM disciplines