Undergraduate Discovery Science Experience in Renal Biology and Disease

迫切需要增加招聘多样化的劳动力和培养下一代科学家 能够在与NIH使命相关的领域进行研究，特别是NIDDK的研究。科学、 技术、工程和数学（STEM）职业是美国增长最快的职业。 在美国，大约70%的工作需要高中以上的教育。然而，只有不到20%的大学 毕业生获得STEM相关领域的学位，这是进入研究生涯的第一步。这个数字 对于来自地理和经济背景不利的个人来说， 代表性不足的种族和少数民族群体以及美洲印第安人/美洲原住民。而且学生 来自不同背景的人面临着许多挑战，威胁到他们进入和坚持 本科STEM研究，并最终进入STEM劳动力。 为了解决这一问题，我们开发了一个名为“Aspirnaut™ K-20 STEM管道多样性"的培训计划 在范德比尔特大学医学中心（VUMC）的“健康和健康”。自2009年成立以来，137 来自24个州的本科生已被录取。98%来自 不同的背景和93%的毕业生追求先进的STEM学位。在这些学员中， 从2013年到2021年由我们的R25赠款赞助。 在这次更新中，我们将利用Aspirnaut™培训管道在13个夏天取得的成功。在目标1中， 我们将从代表性不足的种族和族裔群体以及美国印第安人/原住民中招募40%的参与者， 美国人和70%来自地理和经济上处于不利地位的背景和/或有限的家庭 教育水平。在目标2中，我们将让本科生参与有指导的发现科学体验 主题是“肾脏生物学与疾病”。“在目标3中，我们将增加发现科学的经验， 指导专业技能发展。在目标4中，我们将通过引导 健康训练此外，我们将实施在上一个融资周期中试行的几项创新， 完善培训渠道的整体模式。 预期的结果将增加进入STEM学科的本科生的数量和多样性 与NIDDK使命相关，并作为复制的模式。

There is a critical need to increase the recruitment of a diverse workforce and develop next-generation scientists who can conduct research in areas relevant to the NIH mission, particularly that of the NIDDK. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers are the fastest-growing occupation in the United States, with around 70% of jobs requiring some education past high school. Yet less than 20% of college graduates earn degrees in a STEM-related field, the initial step in accessing a research career. This number is far lower for individuals from geographically- and economically-disadvantaged backgrounds and underrepresented racial and ethnic minority groups and American Indian/Native Americans. Moreover, students from diverse backgrounds face numerous challenges that threaten their entry into and persistence in undergraduate STEM studies, and ultimately into the STEM workforce. To address this shortfall, we developed a training program titled "Aspirnaut™ K-20 STEM Pipeline for Diversity and Wellness" at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC). Since the program's inception in 2009, 137 undergraduate students from 24 states have matriculated into the pipeline. Ninety-eight percent were from diverse backgrounds and 93% of the graduates pursued advanced STEM degrees. Among these trainees, 84 were sponsored by our R25 grant from 2013 to 2021. In this renewal, we will leverage our success over 13 summers with the Aspirnaut™ training pipeline. In Aim 1, we will recruit 40% of participants from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups and American Indians/Native Americans and 70% from geographically- and economically-disadvantaged backgrounds and/or limited family level of education. In Aim 2, we will engage undergraduate students in a guided discovery science experience on the topic of "Renal Biology and Disease." In Aim 3, we will augment the discovery science experience with guided professional skills development. In Aim 4, we will enhance the discovery science experience with guided wellness training. Additionally, we will implement several innovations, piloted over the previous funding cycle, to perfect a holistic model of the training pipeline. The anticipated outcomes will increase the number and diversity of undergraduates entering STEM disciplines of relevance to the NIDDK mission and serve as a model for replication.