Impact of undergraduate research and educational program in genomics and bioinformatics on career choices in Puerto Rican students from different socioeconomic backgrounds

该项目的目的是采用基于现代技术的直接研究型学习方法，实施基因组学和生物信息学综合课程，并审查该课程对增加选择科学和研究职业道路的波多黎各学生人数的影响。该项目将提供一个独特的平台，研究在一个主要的代表性不足的少数民族服务机构中，融合教育对职业选择的影响，学生涵盖波多黎各社会的整个社会经济领域。本计画的主要教育目标是建立一套以教授基因组学与生物资讯学为起点，透过合作式课程计画，培养学生独立与原创性研究的本科课程序列。参与本科生的研究活动和著作权，沿着学术成就的重要因素调解的影响，种族/民族的科学职业选择。 主要的研究目标已纳入课程序列，并将产生一个波多黎各岛人类基因组多样性的在线地图。长期目标是通过实施数十个学生发起的项目来创建独立的研究人员，这些项目将以各种形式进行交流，包括参与本科生研究研讨会的平台演示，在全国会议上的演示，在线报告和同行评议的出版物。终点和结果，如考试成绩，对主题的一般知识的前后评价，对研究经验的看法，对课程的评价，指导和对其他学生的建议，以及对进入研究生院或其他与STEM学科相关的职业的态度，将记录所有参与者。这些结果将与社会经济地位和职业选择的态度之前，期间和之后应用的课程。

The purpose of this project is to implement an integrative curriculum in genomics and bioinformatics, by using direct research-based learning approaches based on modern techniques, and to examine the impact of this curriculum on increasing the number of Puerto Rican students choosing to pursue scientific and research career paths. This project will provide a unique platform for studying the effect of the integrated education on career choices in a major underrepresented minority-serving institution with students encompassing the whole socioeconomic spectrum of the Puerto Rican society. The major educational objective of this project is to establish an undergraduate curricular sequence starting from teaching genomics and bioinformatics, through collaborative class project to fostering independent and original research by the undergraduates. Participation in undergraduate research activities and authorship, along with academic achievement are among the significant factors mediating the effect of race/ethnicity in the scientific career choices. The major research objective is incorporated into the curricular sequence and will result in an on-line map of human genome diversity across the island of Puerto Rico. The long-term goal is to create independent researchers through implementing dozens of student-initiated projects that will be communicated in various forms, including platform presentation participation in undergraduate research symposia, presentations at national meetings, online reports and peer-reviewed publications. Endpoints and outcomes such as test grades, pre- and post- evaluation of the general knowledge on the topic, perceptions of the research experience, evaluation of the course, mentorship, and recommendations to other students, as well as attitude towards entering graduate schools or other careers related to STEM disciplines, will be recorded for all participants. These outcomes will be correlated with the socioeconomic status and the career choice attitudes before, during and after application of the courses.