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A Mixed-Methods Analysis of a Student-Led Near-Peer Mentorship Program for the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program: Findings and a Replicable Framework

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Title: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of a Student-Led Near-Peer Mentorship Program for the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program: Findings and a Replicable Framework
Language: English
Authors: Courtney Peña-Lima (ORCID 0000-0002-7381-7789), Nicole Tanenbaum (ORCID 0000-0003-0626-2821), Lily Xu (ORCID 0000-0002-1200-8937), Crystal M. Botham (ORCID 0000-0002-7510-6112)
Source: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education. 2026 54(1):67-75.
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 9
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Peer Teaching, Mentors, Graduate Study, Graduate Students, Student Research, Scientific Research, Fellowships, Grantsmanship, Proposal Writing, Biological Sciences, Connected Discourse, Essays, Research Design, Program Effectiveness, Statistical Analysis, Program Implementation
DOI: 10.1002/bmb.70031
ISSN: 1470-8175
1539-3429
Abstract: Grant writing is a critical skill if pursuing a research career. However, not all PhD students receive formal grant writing training as it can be costly for institutions to develop and maintain. To address this need, we implemented a student-led, near-peer mentorship program for biosciences graduate students applying to the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP). This program matches mentees with graduate student mentors and structures the grant writing process into a 7-week program with personalized feedback. To understand graduate student experiences and determine the efficacy of the NSF GRFP near-peer mentorship program, the authors performed qualitative and quantitative assessments of program survey data. The students' grant writing competencies were measured before and after the program. Additionally, mentee award rates were compared to benchmark rates for program participants and nationwide applicants. A qualitative analysis of open-ended survey data revealed common challenges in grant writing include writing cohesion, research essay development, and getting started and that near-peer mentorship augments the application process. Quantitative analysis revealed that mentees reported higher confidence in conceptualizing a study, designing a study, and funding a study afterwards as well as had a higher success rate of receiving an Award or Honorable Mention compared to the national average. This paper offers insights into PhD students' experiences in grant writing through qualitative analysis, validates the effectiveness of the program through statistical analysis, and offers an adoptable, low-cost, and sustainable program framework that can be implemented by student leaders at other institutions.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1496357
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of a Student-Led Near-Peer Mentorship Program for the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program: Findings and a Replicable Framework
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Courtney+Peña-Lima%22">Courtney Peña-Lima</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7381-7789">0000-0002-7381-7789</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nicole+Tanenbaum%22">Nicole Tanenbaum</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0626-2821">0000-0003-0626-2821</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lily+Xu%22">Lily Xu</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1200-8937">0000-0002-1200-8937</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Crystal+M%2E+Botham%22">Crystal M. Botham</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7510-6112">0000-0002-7510-6112</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Biochemistry+and+Molecular+Biology+Education%22"><i>Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education</i></searchLink>. 2026 54(1):67-75.
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  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Peer+Teaching%22">Peer Teaching</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mentors%22">Mentors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Graduate+Study%22">Graduate Study</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Graduate+Students%22">Graduate Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Research%22">Student Research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Scientific+Research%22">Scientific Research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fellowships%22">Fellowships</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grantsmanship%22">Grantsmanship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Proposal+Writing%22">Proposal Writing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Biological+Sciences%22">Biological Sciences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Connected+Discourse%22">Connected Discourse</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Essays%22">Essays</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+Design%22">Research Design</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Program+Effectiveness%22">Program Effectiveness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Statistical+Analysis%22">Statistical Analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Program+Implementation%22">Program Implementation</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1002/bmb.70031
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  Data: 1470-8175<br />1539-3429
– Name: Abstract
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  Data: Grant writing is a critical skill if pursuing a research career. However, not all PhD students receive formal grant writing training as it can be costly for institutions to develop and maintain. To address this need, we implemented a student-led, near-peer mentorship program for biosciences graduate students applying to the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP). This program matches mentees with graduate student mentors and structures the grant writing process into a 7-week program with personalized feedback. To understand graduate student experiences and determine the efficacy of the NSF GRFP near-peer mentorship program, the authors performed qualitative and quantitative assessments of program survey data. The students' grant writing competencies were measured before and after the program. Additionally, mentee award rates were compared to benchmark rates for program participants and nationwide applicants. A qualitative analysis of open-ended survey data revealed common challenges in grant writing include writing cohesion, research essay development, and getting started and that near-peer mentorship augments the application process. Quantitative analysis revealed that mentees reported higher confidence in conceptualizing a study, designing a study, and funding a study afterwards as well as had a higher success rate of receiving an Award or Honorable Mention compared to the national average. This paper offers insights into PhD students' experiences in grant writing through qualitative analysis, validates the effectiveness of the program through statistical analysis, and offers an adoptable, low-cost, and sustainable program framework that can be implemented by student leaders at other institutions.
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        Value: 10.1002/bmb.70031
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    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Peer Teaching
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mentors
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