Early Preparation and Inspiration for Careers in the Biomedical Sciences

描述(由申请人提供)：超过一半的美国高中生对科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)职业兴趣不大--即使是高水平的学生也是如此。根据美国国家科学基金会的说法，由于STEM专业人员的短缺--包括生物医学研究(BR)--美国面临着一场正在聚集的风暴。因此，我们建议生物医学干预(EPIC)的早期准备和职业灵感，这是一所研究型大学、四所地区高中、职业规划专家、6-12年级流行病学教育领导人和社区利益相关者之间的合作伙伴关系。具体目标：1)确定接受“像流行病学家一样思考挑战”(EPI Challenger)干预的学生是否比没有接受干预的学生更有兴趣、动机和/或准备从事BR职业；2)确定高中职业顾问采用职业评估和规划工具是否会影响追求BR职业的动机和/或准备。设计：随机干预研究，前后检验。方法：采用分层随机抽样的方法，按学校、STEM兴趣/水平分层，对经济困难和种族/少数民族状况进行超额抽样，随机抽取4所高中9年级学生。为了达到干预的平衡，四个阶层中的每一个将被随机接受或不接受假设驱动、导师指导的基于项目的学习体验，并跟踪调查至12年级。主要假设：在大一和大二参加EPI挑战赛的学生更有可能在高中四年级时申报STEM专业。这项干预将提供流行病学方法方面的基本培训，并将提供真实的体验，让学生团队制定自己的假设，计划、实施、分析、解释和交流结果。学生团队将由宾夕法尼亚州立大学二年级研究生指导。其他令人感兴趣的结果包括增加对科学的灵感(自我报告的兴趣和自我效能)、熟练程度(科学素养、科学探究技能、科学和数学成绩和考试成绩)和毅力(自我报告的职业规划、工作跟踪经验、选修课程和双重入学)。预期结果：EPIC将为高中早期干预提供一个重要的纵向视角，该干预与不同高中学生后来的大学选择有关。与健康相关：解决STEM职业，特别是BR职业的短缺问题，将保持和改善生物医学研究的知识和实践基础，包括健康促进和疾病预防。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Over half of US high school students express a low interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers-even among students with high proficiency. According to the National Science Foundation, the US faces a "gathering storm" due to a deficit of STEM professionals--including biomedical research (BR). Therefore, we propose the Early Preparation and Inspiration for Careers in the Biomedical Sciences (EPIC) Intervention, a partnership between a research university, four regional high schools, career planning experts, leaders in epidemiology education for grades 6-12, and community stakeholders. Specific Aims: 1) Determine whether interest, motivation and/or preparedness to pursue a BR career are greater among students who receive the "Think Like an Epidemiologist Challenge" (Epi Challenge) intervention compared with students who do not; 2) Determine whether adoption of career assessment and planning tools by high school career counselors influences motivation and/or preparedness to pursue a BR career. Design: Randomized intervention study with pre-/post testing. Methods: We will conduct a stratified random sample of 9th grade students in four high schools stratified by school, STEM interest/proficiency, with oversampling for economically disadvantaged and racial/ethnic minority status. In order to achieve balance in the intervention arms, each of the four strata will be randomized to receive or not receive a hypothesis-driven, mentor-guided project-based learning experience with follow-up through 12th grade. Major Hypothesis: Students who participate in the Epi Challenge in their freshman and sophomore years will be more likely to declare a STEM major by their senior year of high school. This intervention will provide basic training in epidemiologic methods, and will provide an authentic experience wherein student teams develop their own hypothesis, plan, conduct, analyze, interpret, and communicate results. Student teams will be mentored by second year Penn State graduate students. Other outcomes of interest include measures of increased inspiration about science (self-reported interest and self-efficacy), proficiency (science literacy, science inquiry skills, science and math grades and test scores), and persistence (self-reported career plan, job shadowing experience, elective course selection and dual enrollment). Expected Outcome: EPIC will provide an important longitudinal perspective on an early high school intervention related to later college choices among students at diverse high schools. Health Relevance: Addressing shortages in STEM careers in general and BR careers in particular will maintain and improve the knowledge and practice base for biomedical research, including health promotion and disease prevention.