RaMP: STEGG-INTERACT: Southeast Texas Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics INTEgrative Research and Collaborative Training

该项目将为毕业后的学生开发一个研究和指导计划，作为德克萨斯东南进化遗传学和基因组网络的一部分，以支持一体化研究和合作培训(STEGG-InterAct)。为了解决阻碍许多本科生追求科学职业的障碍，该项目将为30名毕业后(为期三年，每年10名)提供与德克萨斯州东南部大学的教职员工和研究生的合作研究体验。毕业后的学生将进行指导研究，接受技术技能培训，参加专业发展计划，并了解科学的职业选择。有指导的研究将侧重于了解生物相互作用，例如细胞内分子之间的相互作用，种群内雄性和雌性之间的相互作用，以及生态群落中跨物种的相互作用。这项研究将为生物相互作用如何影响种群和物种的进化提供有价值的见解。该项目将增加进化生物学和更广泛的科学领域中代表性不足的群体的参与。STEGG-InterAct将解决进化遗传学中的两个重要缺陷，即将生物相互作用纳入到目前对进化生物学的理解中，以及该领域中服务不足的群体的有限代表性。具体地说，关于细胞内过程如何进化，有机体相互作用在种群动态中的作用，以及营养相互作用与进化过程之间的关系，还有许多悬而未决的问题。STEGG-InterAct将开展合作研究，利用理论和模型、种群遗传学方法以及比较和系统学方法，解决我们知识中的这些差距。为了帮助实现这些目标，毕业后的学生将接受包括生物信息学和计算生物学在内的技术技能培训。STEGG-InterAct将通过与少数群体服务机构建立关系，在一定程度上扩大对进化生物学的参与。除了技术技能，毕业后的学生还将接受科学交流、研究道德和职业准备方面的培训。STEGG-InterAct还将在循证指导实践中培训教师，促进指导契约的制度化，并促进个人发展计划。这将支持培训包容性的、具有文化意识的导师的新模式，这些导师可以与来自不同背景的受训者合作。通过参与一个多样化、支持性的研究社区，STEGG-InterAct的每一批毕业后毕业生都将发展STEM身份和科学自我效能，以扩大对进化生物学的参与。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project will develop a research and mentoring program for post-baccalaureates as part of the Southeast Texas Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics network to support INTEgrative Research And Collaborative Training (STEGG-INTERACT). To address barriers that prevent many undergraduate students from pursing scientific careers, this project will provide 30 post-baccalaureates (10 per year for three years) with a collaborative research experience with faculty and graduate students at universities in Southeast Texas. Post-baccalaureates will carry out mentored research, be trained in technical skills, participate in a professional development program, and learn about scientific career options. The mentored research will focus on understanding biological interactions, such as those among molecules within cells, between males and females within populations, and across species in ecological communities. The research will provide valuable insights into how biological interactions affect the evolution of populations and species. The project will increase participation by members of groups that are under-represented in evolutionary biology, and science more generally. STEGG-INTERACT will address two important deficiencies in evolutionary genetics, the incorporation of biological interactions into current understanding of evolutionary biology and the limited representation of under-served groups in the field. Specifically, there are many unresolved questions about how intracellular processes evolve, the role of organismal interactions on population dynamics, and the relationship between trophic interactions and evolutionary processes. STEGG-INTERACT post-baccalaureates, graduate students, and faculty will carry out collaborative research to address these gaps in our knowledge using theory and modeling, population genetic approaches, and comparative and phylogenetic methods. To help accomplish these goals, the post-baccalaureates will receive training in technical skills, including bioinformatics and computational biology. STEGG-INTERACT will broaden participation in evolutionary biology in part by building relationships with minority-serving institutions. In addition to the technical skills, post-baccalaureates will receive training in scientific communication, research ethics, and career preparation. STEGG-INTERACT will also train faculty in evidence-based mentoring practices, facilitate the institutionalization of mentoring compacts, and promote Individual Development Plans. This will support new models for training inclusive, culturally aware mentors who can work with trainees from diverse backgrounds. By participating in a diverse, supportive community of researchers, each cohort of STEGG-INTERACT post-baccalaureates will develop STEM identities and self-efficacy in science to broaden participation in evolutionary biology.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.