MBRS IMSD Program at the University of Kansas

描述（由申请人提供）：自堪萨斯大学（KU） IMSD项目开始以来的短短三年内，将有12名少数民族学生申请研究生院，其中包括6名美国印第安人。这是一项延续提案，使我们能够在这些成功的基础上再接再厉。KU IMSD与其他NIH资助的项目（Bridge， RISE， IRACDA）合作，充分利用了研究机构（KU）和最大的部落学院之一（Haskell Indian Nations University）的并立优势。KU IMSD由四个部分组成：1)为美国印第安人和其他少数民族学生提供研究经验，特别注重从Bridge或RISE项目中招募Haskell学生；2)加强和修改课程；3)举办跨学科系列研讨会；4)提供经济援助和指导。本科生的研究经历采用广泛的跨学科方法，将学生安排到堪萨斯大学77个可能的实验室之一，并为学生提供在当地和国家会议上分享研究成果的机会。该项目还将支持几名从哈斯克尔大学获得学士学位的美国印第安研究生。IMSD支持的课程改进在过去三年中取得了显著成果，将继续对生物、化学和数学等关键课程进行改进。在过去的六年里，仅在生物学这一项，完成生物学入门课程的美国印第安学生的平均绩点就从0.86提高到了2.94。综合系列研讨会将汇集来自IMSD， Bridge和RISE项目的学生，以促进社区和学习。KU IMSD对本科生研究人员的支持将是提供经济支持的基石，同时也为美国印第安学生提供KU奖学金。指导将由教师（研究顾问），IMSD项目协调员（个人和小组会议）和同龄人（其他IMSD学生）提供。评估和跟踪程序将允许在项目过程中定期调整活动，并评估目标是否已经实现。如果再资助四年，堪萨斯大学和哈斯克尔的合作将有机会显著影响美国印第安人科学家的数量。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Within the three short years since the University of Kansas (KU) IMSD program began, twelve minority students, including six American Indians, will have applied to graduate school. This is a continuation proposal to allow us to build on these successes. KU IMSD works in concert with other NIH funded programs (Bridge, RISE, IRACDA) and takes full advantage of the juxtaposition of a Research I Institution (KU) and one of the largest tribal colleges (Haskell Indian Nations University). KU IMSD consists of four components: 1) providing research experiences to American Indian and other minority students, with a particular a focus on recruiting Haskell students from the Bridge or RISE program; 2) enhancing and modifying the curriculum; 3) offering an interdisciplinary seminar series and 4) providing financial aid and mentoring. The undergraduate research experience takes a broad, interdisciplinary approach to placing students into one of 77 possible KU labs and includes opportunities for students to share their research results at local and national meetings. The program will also support several American Indian graduate students who have obtained BA's from Haskell. IMSD supported curricular enhancements that have shown remarkable results over the past three years will be continued for gatekeeper courses in biology, chemistry and math. In biology alone, the average grade point average of American Indian students who completed the introductory biology course has increased from 0.86 to 2.94 over the past six years. An integrative seminar series will bring together students from the IMSD, Bridge, and RISE programs to foster community and learning. Support from KU IMSD for undergraduate researchers will be a cornerstone in providing financial support along with KU scholarships targeted for American Indian students. Mentoring will be provided from faculty (research advisors), the IMSD Program Coordinator (individual and group meetings) and peers (other IMSD students). Evaluation and tracking procedures will allow for regular adjustment of activities during the course of the program and assessment of whether goals have been met. If funded for another four years, the KU/Haskell collaboration provides the opportunity to significantly impact the number of American Indian scientists in this country.