What is (and Why) TJP?
The Jobian Project is a cohort-based program to connect, inspire, and equip our best and brightest students to increase representation in the most competitive physical science research circles
Welcome to our new Substack 👏🏾 and thank you for taking time to learn about our “what” and more importantly, our “why”…
The Call to Action
It is January 2025 and the United States government is enacting a radical shift in policy, programs, and funding related to any and all initiatives even remotely associated with “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” (DEI). For many, “DEI” has become a catch-all buzzword that equates to ethnic minorities and “different” people (as defined by those in power). The expectation is for the continued dissipation of academic and research opportunities for young African American students (regardless of talent or merit).
The Jobian Project (TJP) is a response to this implicit call to action.
In many of the top U.S. universities and research labs, the most competitive STEM majors, assistantships, internships, and fellowships are predominantly filled by white or international students. University faculty and research staff will often reflect similar demographics.
Add in the 2023 Supreme Court decision to ban race-conscious admissions. The fallout has been significant. Even those fortunate enough to get accepted via legacy admissions still have to negotiate a steep “pay wall” with tuition at top universities now surpassing $60K per year.
While the outlook may appear bleak, there’s a clear reason why Asian Americans fought the “diversity trend” in college admissions all the way to the Supreme Court: higher education remains the fastest way to radically boost one’s life trajectory. For many, the benefits of earning a competitive STEM degree from a top-tier U.S. university can be transformative and generational:
Increased, lifelong earnings
Certification of intellectual prowess and technical acumen
Social respect and acceptance
Multi-generational benefits (e.g., legacy admissions)
The TJP Action Plan
There are many mature, well-funded organizations and initiatives already out there to help students achieve their academic and professional dreams. So why TJP?
Some top universities are making strides to close the economic gap by offering discounted or free tuition to students who can demonstrate financial need. Without question, this gesture is laudable. However, the acceptance rates at many of these top universities, for undergraduate and graduate study, have dropped to single digits. This news necessarily translates into lost opportunities for students who could be the next Dr. Charles Drew, Dr. Herman Branson, or our now-famous “Hidden Figures”. While many extracurricular programs strive to make college attainable and affordable for all, few (if any) aspire to nurture already-strong students to stand among the world’s elites in their respective fields.
TJP’s action plan for our best and brightest science students is threefold: CONNECT, INSPIRE, and EQUIP. We will help students who are already solid scholars to not only survive but thrive in these high-stress, hyper-competitive, academic environments. We endeavor to round out their academic training with exposure to advanced research content and hands-on opportunities while also surrounding the students with a strong support system of intellectual peers, engaged parents, role models, mentors, academic researchers, and STEM industry professionals. The rest will be on them to make the most out of the opportunities presented to them.
1. Connect
We believe there are MANY cases of young math and science prodigies who can’t find anyone at home, at school, or in their neighborhood who shares their obsession for solving puzzles, stargazing, or conducting science experiments in the backyard or garage. We will connect like-minded students using collaboration and communication tools they already use and carry around in their pockets.
2. Inspire
The goal of the Inspire step is to create “yellow ball” moments for each student. Along the way, we hope to dispel myths and negative perceptions about advanced research and life in academia. Speakers and mentors will offer their privileged insights and if done well, our students will one day enter every room with the utmost confidence in their abilities, qualifications, and readiness for the moment.
3. Equip
There will always be “haves” and “have nots”. Some high schools have gene sequencing equipment in their DNA labs while others teach using cartoon drawings of genes on their Promethean boards. While we cannot independently level the playing field for all K-12 students, we can look out for extracurricular opportunities to stimulate intellectual curiosity and help close some of the technology and opportunity gaps. One of our first efforts will involve the use of AI-powered tools to curate information, events, contacts, and learning opportunities related to each student’s expressed STEM interests.
Our Definition of Success
Nobel Laureates. Wolf Prize (science), Leibniz Prize (science research), Abel (math) and Fields Medal (math) nominees and winners. We want our students to know that there is no ceiling. They stand on the shoulders of giants and given the right opportunities and timely access to resources, they too can achieve what many deem unthinkable.
At which time, however, we will proudly partner with them to connect, inspire, and equip the next generation of leaders!
— DLD
Recommended reads:
End of the road? The Career Intentions of Under-Represented STEM Students in Higher Education, Wong et al., 2022. [PDF]
The Value of Support: STEM Intervention Programs Impact Student Persistence and Belonging, Shortlidge et al., 2024. [PDF]