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）职业表现出较低的兴趣，即使是在熟练程度较高的学生中。根据美国国家科学基金会的数据，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“聚集风暴”。因此，我们提出了在生物医学科学（EPIC）干预职业生涯的早期准备和灵感，一个研究型大学，四个区域高中，职业规划专家，流行病学教育的领导者6-12年级，和社区利益相关者之间的伙伴关系。具体目标：1）确定兴趣，动机和/或准备追求BR职业的学生谁收到“像流行病学家的挑战”（Epi挑战）干预相比，学生谁不更大; 2）确定是否采用职业评估和规划工具的高中职业辅导员影响动机和/或准备追求BR职业。设计：随机干预研究与前/后测试。研究方法：我们将对四所高中的九年级学生进行分层随机抽样，按学校，STEM兴趣/熟练程度分层，并对经济弱势和种族/少数民族身份进行过度抽样。为了在干预组中实现平衡，四个分层中的每一个都将被随机分配，以接受或不接受假设驱动的、导师指导的基于项目的学习经验，并随访至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宣布STEM专业。这种干预将提供流行病学方法的基本培训，并将提供一个真实的经验，其中学生团队开发自己的假设，计划，进行，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的研究生指导。其他感兴趣的结果包括增加科学灵感（自我报告的兴趣和自我效能感）、熟练度（科学素养、科学探究技能、科学和数学成绩以及考试成绩）和持久性（自我报告的职业计划、工作跟踪经验、选修课程选择和双招生）。预期结果：EPIC将提供一个重要的纵向视角，早期高中干预相关的学生在不同的高中之间后来的大学选择。健康相关性：解决STEM职业的短缺问题，特别是BR职业，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.