U-RISE at Portland State University

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The overarching aim of our proposed training program is to provide an integrated experience and pathway for underrepresented undergraduate students who aspire to become independent biomedical researchers. U- RISE at PSU will recruit, train, and mentor students from underrepresented groups, using evidence-based approaches and institutionalizing sustainable programmatic practices. The U-RISE at PSU approach reflects the following principles: 1) Curriculum must center on inquiry-based learning that fosters scientific thinking and investigation. 2) Students need authentic long-term experiences contributing to actual research projects and opportunities to expand and deepen their contributions to research projects over time. 3) Belonging to inclusive communities, such as peer cohorts and research teams, provides students with a sense of support and identity as researchers. 4) A team of mentors ensures students have support and guidance in multiple domains spanning personal, educational, and career development throughout their undergraduate training experience. 5) Students should have opportunities to conceive, propose, conduct, and report on their research with supportive advising. 6) Students must have a supportive environment addressing their holistic needs for personal, financial, cultural, social, and educational support. The overall training plan is a comprehensive, multi-level intervention program that will scaffold several stages of training. The first two stages, Orientation and Preparation, are designed to recruit a broad group of diverse students who have expressed an interest in biomedical research, build a supportive peer cohort, and plan for education and career opportunities in biomedical research. After completing this preparation phase, students apply to become U-RISE trainees, where they are matched with a Research Learning Community (RLC) and engage in a hands-on long-term research training experience. The placement phase begins with their first summer research activity, Summer Induction, provides a guided entry into their RLC. During the Integration stage, U-RISE trainees practice team science with their RLC team and conduct their own research project during their summer research Immersion experience. For the culmination phase, RISE trainees continue collaborating in their RLC and complete the dissemination component of their research. The Culmination phase transitions U-RISE trainees into a biomedical research-focused graduate program. Throughout U-RISE at PSU trainees will have access to a multi-tiered mentoring program inclusive of peer mentors, a faculty/career mentor, and a research mentor. Trainees are required to participate regularly in research enrichment workshops and complete training in responsible conduct of research and rigor and reproducibility. The intended trainee outcomes include developing self-efficacy and persistence as a scientist; planning to pursue a biomedical research career; engaging in experiential learning; presenting at scientific conferences; publishing; graduating; and applying and being admitted into a graduate program in a field leading to a biomedical research career.