UAB STEP-UP: Promoting Diversity through Team Mentored Research Experiences

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Although there have been numerous efforts to increase the number of underrepresented researchers in universities across the country, there continues to be a lack of diversity in most disciplines, including the biomedical sciences. We will leverage our experience in training underrepresented minority students and our expertise and connections related to NIDDK mission areas to ensure that we inspire and develop the next generation of NIDDK researchers. The specific aims of UAB STEP-UP: Promoting Diversity through Team Mentored Research Experiences (UAB STEP-UP), a renewal of the existing, highly-successful UAB STEP-UP program, include: 1) developing a diverse cadre of promising undergraduate students across the country by providing a combination of in-person and virtual education and hands-on mentored research experiences; 2) utilizing existing research networks to develop a cadre of mentors invested in training undergraduate students to conduct research in the areas of diabetes and other endocrine and metabolic diseases; digestive diseases, nutritional disorders, and obesity; and kidney, urologic and hematologic diseases; 3) ensuring the success of this cadre of students by employing a team mentoring and guidance approach consisting of Academic Mentors, Personal Advocates, and Career Coaches to provide structured guidance and education toward success in graduate school and future careers; and 4) continuously evaluating the program and its implementation to allow for quality improvement and mid-course corrections The UAB STEP-UP Coordinating Center will select motivated, promising undergraduate students who have completed at least their freshman year and provide them with the organizational, academic and research skills and experience needed to be competitive for graduate and professional education. UAB STEP-UP will collaborate with our current partner organizations including HBCUs across Alabama and Atlanta University Center schools to engage and recruit traditionally underrepresented students. Elements of the program include intensive mentored research experiences for 10 weeks during the two summers (30 hours/week) enhanced by virtual group learning activities in research and career planning (10 hours/week), and followed by virtual research education activities during the academic year following Years 1 and 2. This is followed by virtual maintenance to maintain interest in NIDDK research and to keep Trainees connected to the program. During this program, trainees will develop working relationships with academic researchers and will be involved with the processes and products of cutting-edge research. Our team mentoring approach includes Academic Mentors, along with Personal Advocates and Career Coaches to provide additional professional support to the Trainees. Expanding the mentor network to include these components will promote a deeper and varied understanding of Trainees’ chosen career fields.