Educational Modules to Broaden Academic Research Cultures (EMBARC)

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Project Summary/Abstract Although undergraduate research training programs have made progress in engaging underrepresented minority (URM) students in biobehavioral science, disparities in the community college-to-university pipeline remain given the focus has been on undergraduates at 4-year universities despite the fact that URM students are more likely than non-URM students to enroll in and receive part of their training at a community college (CC). The purpose of the proposed Educational Modules to Broaden Academic Research Cultures (EMBARC) program is to invite, retain, and support transfer of CC students in the biobehavioral sciences through innovative, culturally-informed educational modules, rigorously tested through a partnership with the largest community college district and system of higher education in the country (Los Angeles Community College District [LACCD], California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office [CCCCO]) and distributed nationwide with some of the largest professional organizations for URM students in biomedical and behavioral sciences (Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students [ABRCMS], American Psychological Association [APA], Society for Advancing Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science [SACNAS]). We accomplish this through the following specific aims: (1) Develop interactive educational modules using qualitative (inductive, student-based) and quantitative (deductive, empirical and theory-based) approaches, providing multiple formats (summer-intensive face-to-face [SI-FTF], annual-year face-to-face [AY-FTF] facilitated by peer trainers in a Train-the-Trainer [TTT] model, or self-paced online [SP-O]) to maximize accessibility for CC URM students with a variety of circumstances and needs; (2) Extensively test the educational modules using experimental and control groups for each presentation format at 9 LACCD campuses to ensure relevance and validity of the modules as accessible options that increase biobehavioral self-efficacy, belonging, and transfer; (3) Establish and disseminate our modules through online repositories designed for students, trainers, and institutions who can access and customize a menu of materials on scientific skills and scripts that connect students’ passion and vision for their role in biobehavioral research; and (4) Evaluate the effect of high impact practices, such as mentored conference travel and speaker series, to strengthen professional networks and scientific belonging by creating access to role models and opportunities for students to practice and maintain skills learned. EMBARC will result in rigorously-tested, culturally-relevant training modules across multiple formats, a publicly-accessible repository with a suite of training and workshop offerings, 99 trained CC facilitators, and the potential to impact 100,000+ students, scientists, and educators interested in health research through our CC networks and professional organization partnerships.