MARC Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research (U-STAR) NC A&T

抽象的。作为全国最大的公立HBCU，北卡罗来纳州农业和技术州立大学 (NC A&T）在STEM领域培训了大量代表性不足的少数民族（URM）学生。通过战略 规划与NC A&T的卓越2020保持一致， 大学的研究基础设施，包括聘请有才华的新教师， 生物医学科学这创造了一个非常有利于指导学生的环境 各级目前的MARC U-STAR计划利用现有的基础设施， MARC学者培训。在大学的支持下，MARC项目创造了跨学科的 NC A&T参与部门的教师导师团队; 2）设计课程，提供真实的 在课堂上的研究经验; 3）开发学术提高活动;和4）开发 MARC学者的专业发展计划。这些举措，加上来自 项目评估员和由教师导师和MARC校友组成的咨询委员会确保了 该计划继续以一种回应学生需求的方式发展， 结合新的想法来推进计划的目标。因此，超过70%的MARC学者 在R1机构就读博士课程，在过去5年中留存率>70%。 在目前的MARC U-STAR更新申请中，我们寻求在过去9年成功的基础上， 多年来，通过在NC A&T的MARC U-STAR学者计划的持续发展。NC A&T MARC U-STAR计划将为36名高级研究人员提供综合的学术和研究培训经验。 有竞争力的学生谁致力于获得生物医学科学博士学位。招募 有才华，积极性高的学生的计划，我们已经制定了一个强大的战略，利用 现有资源，以扩大对生物医学研究感兴趣的学生人数。这一战略 建立在最近的举措，将基于课程的研究机会纳入关键的100和200级 生物学和化学课程中的课程，旨在确定学生谁是本质上 激励并激励他们考虑从事研究工作。 MARC学者将受益于旨在促进他们的学术成功和他们的 发展为研究者。MARC U-STAR计划有三个目标：1）帮助MARC学者 通过参与有针对性的学术充实，发展和保持学术卓越的记录 和学术支持计划; 2）促进研究能力的不断进步， MARC学者通过参与逐步增强的研究培训经验;以及3） 通过与MARC学者的接触，培养他们的批判性思维和沟通技巧。 主要生物医学研究文献和科学发现的有效沟通， 通过口头和书面陈述的科学界。这些活动将由一个致力于 NC A&T和合作伙伴R1机构的教师导师团队。研究导师联络员将协调 指导活动，并与计划评估员合作，以确保对计划的持续评估 活动所要求的资金将确保成功培训URM学生的知识，技能和 成功完成生物医学科学博士课程所需的奉献精神，最终导致 更加多样化的生物医学研究队伍。

Abstract. As the largest public HBCU in the nation, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T) trains a large number of underrepresented minority (URM) students in STEM. Through strategic planning aligned with NC A&T’s Pre-eminence 2020, there has been tremendous transformation of the research infrastructure at the university, including the hiring of talented new faculty with research programs in the biomedical sciences. This has created an environment that is highly conducive to the mentoring of students at all levels. The current MARC U-STAR program has leveraged the existing infrastructure to enhance the training of MARC Scholars. With university support, the MARC program has 1) created cross disciplinary teams of faculty mentors in participating departments at NC A&T; 2) designed courses that offer authentic research experiences in the classroom; 3) developed academic enhancement activities; and 4) developed professional development programs for MARC Scholars. These initiatives, coupled with feedback from a program evaluator and an advisory board consisting of faculty mentors and MARC alumni, have ensured that the program has continued to evolve in a manner that is responsive to the needs of the students while incorporating new ideas to advance the goals of the program. As a result, over 70% of MARC Scholars have enrolled in PhD programs at R1 institutions with a >70% retention rate over the last 5 years. In the current MARC U-STAR renewal application, we seek to build on the successes of the past 9 years through the continued development of the MARC U-STAR Scholars program at NC A&T. The NC A&T MARC U-STAR program will provide integrated academic and research training experiences for 36 highly competitive students who are committed to obtaining doctoral degrees in the biomedical sciences. To recruit talented, highly motivated students to the program, we have developed a robust strategy that leverages existing resources to broaden the pool of students interested in biomedical research. This strategy, which builds upon recent initiatives to integrate course-based research opportunities into key 100- and 200-level courses in the Biology and Chemistry curricula, is designed both to identify students who are intrinsically motivated and to inspire them to consider careers in research. MARC Scholars will benefit from initiatives designed to promote their academic success and their development as researchers. The MARC U-STAR program has 3 objectives: 1) To help MARC scholars develop and sustain records of academic excellence through participation in targeted academic enrichment and academic support programs; 2) To promote continuous advancement in the research competency of MARC Scholars through participation in progressively enhanced research training experiences; and 3) To develop critical thinking and communication skills among MARC scholars through engagement with the primary biomedical research literature and effective communication of science discoveries to the lay and scientific communities via oral and written presentations. These activities will be implemented by a committed team of faculty mentors at NC A&T and partner R1 institutions. A Research Mentor Liaison will coordinate the mentoring activities and work with the program evaluator to ensure continuous assessment of program activities. The requested funds will ensure successful training of URM students with the knowledge, skills and dedication required to successfully complete doctoral programs in the biomedical sciences, ultimately leading to a more diverse biomedical research workforce.