Administered through the School of Genome Science, the PEER program was created in 2009 to increase the number of accomplished, competitive, and determined minority students who pursue PhDs in the sciences and attain careers in biomedical research. A stipend of $25,000 and tuition for the first two years of study toward the PhD were offered to students accepted into the program. Cynthia Peterson participated in the program while serving as head of the Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology. Carolyn Hodges, vice provost and dean of the Graduate School and an array of scholars and researchers from UT and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, participated in the program to integrate interdisciplinary research, mentoring, and professional activities to enhance the education of program participants. The program was funded by a $3.9 million training grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).