Building Undergraduate Research Training as a Foundation for Diversifying Addiction Research

项目概要/摘要 弗吉尼亚联邦大学（VCU）本科研究教育计划的目标是 在学年期间为本科生制定强化培训和导师计划， 代表性不足（UR）的群体，以创造一个管道，增加物质使用研究的多样性。 VCU是一所大型，多元化的大学（30%的学生来自UR少数民族人口，超过30%是佩尔 补助金合格和2019年新生班是32%的第一代学生），并提供了一个支持 环境，在其中招聘和培训UR学者。此外，我们的大学有大量的 NIDA/NIAAA奖项组合，拥有一支由跨学科研究人员组成的大型团队，研究物质使用和 相关的健康结果。具体来说，该计划将：（1）提供一个介绍性的研究课程， 本科生专注于基础研究技能发展和接触成瘾研究;（2） 从事类校友，从代表性不足的群体，在一个学期的时间，指导研究的经验， 物质使用研究员实验室;（3）为研究员提供专业和职业发展机会 加强学生申请研究生院和从事研究事业的准备;（4）培养 下一代研究人员通过科学方法传播和翻译研究成果 与其他科学家和更广泛的社区交流的机会。之后，每月 计划将继续为所有计划校友提供发展机会，并允许研究员 在他们的大学生涯中建立和维护有凝聚力的支持网络，并帮助他们 过渡到研究生院。计划的成功将在招聘，学生计划 研究员完成学业、从大学毕业以及继续从事研究和研究生教育， 入学考试学生的学习成果将与VCU的教学和 学习中心我们大学的物质使用研究专业知识，除了VCU的多样化的学生团体 和优秀的基础设施/本科研究人员的支持，定位这个程序，以促进 这对增加物质使用研究的多样性具有重要意义。

Project summary/abstract The goal of the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) undergraduate research education program is to develop an intensive training and mentorship program during the academic year for undergraduates from underrepresented (UR) groups, in order to create a pipeline for increasing diversity in substance use research. VCU is a large, diverse university (30% of our students are from UR minority populations, over 30% are Pell grant eligible and the 2019 freshman class was 32% first-generation students) and offers a supportive environment in which to recruit and train UR scholars. Additionally, our university has a substantial NIDA/NIAAA award portfolio with a large team of interdisciplinary researchers studying substance use and related health outcomes. Specifically, the program will: (1) offer an introductory research course for undergraduates focused on foundational research skill development and exposure to addiction research; (2) engage class alumni, from underrepresented groups, in a semester-long, mentored research experience in the lab of a substance use researcher; (3) provide fellows with professional and career development opportunities to strengthen students' readiness to apply to graduate school and pursue research careers; and (4) train the next generation of researchers in the dissemination and translation of research through scientific communication opportunities with other scientists and the broader community. Afterwards, monthly programming will continue for all program alumni to extend development opportunities and allow fellows to create and maintain cohesive support networks throughout their collegiate careers and assist them in the transition to graduate school. Program success will be evaluated across recruitment, student program completion, fellows' graduation from university, and their continued engagement in research and graduate school matriculation. Student learning outcomes will be assessed in conjunction with VCU's teaching and learning center. Our university's substance use research expertise, in addition to VCU's diverse student body and excellent infrastructure/support for undergraduate researchers, position this program to contribute significantly to increasing diversity in substance use research.