CCNY G-RISE Mentor Training Supplement

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In the G-RISE project supported by the parent grant, a group of 22 faculty members at The City College of New York (CCNY) are offering coordinated, innovative, and rigorous Ph.D. training in biochemistry, biophysics, bioorganic chemistry, (biomedical and chemical) engineering, and neuroscience to 14 underrepresented (UR) Ph.D. trainees each year for five years. Our mission is to focus on research and professional skills development of underrepresented Ph.D. trainees at a large public university in the heart of an underserved community, while also providing beneficial impact for our broader population of trainees and mentors in STEM disciplines. Among our objectives is the provision of a supportive and inclusive training environment to recruit and retain talented minority Ph.D. trainees. In Year 1, CCNY used an evidence-based mentor training curriculum and facilitator under the aegis of the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER). This program focused on mentor-mentee communication, aligning expectations with mentoring compacts, addressing equity and inclusion, and promoting professional development. Despite its success, assessment revealed the need to tailor the program’s reach, content, and delivery to our minority-serving institutional environment. Thus, the proposed supplemental funding will address several specific needs: (1) to provide mentor training programs that serve a broader group of CCNY both faculty and Ph.D. student mentors who supervise multi-level URM-focused research training; (2) to improve the logical flow and participant interactions in the CIMER program’s discussion periods; (3) to address mentor-mentee differences in demographics, lifestyles, and career goals; (4) to formalize follow- up development of Mentor-Mentee Compacts, Individual Development Plans (IDPs), and mentee- designed Path-to-Professions activities; (5) to establish appreciation events for mentors to highlight the achievements and challenges associated with these activities. Assessment of the proposed mentor training programs will be conducted directly after the sessions and followed up after six months. Dissemination of the project results will include internal electronic sharing and external presentations at NIH-sponsored Training and Workforce Development meetings. Institutional sustainability plans have been formalized with CCNY’s Interim Associate Provost for Research. Overall, the requested Supplement will leverage G-RISE funding through the parent grant by developing a robust mentoring infrastructure and culture that is tailored to the faculty and students at our urban minority-serving institution.