BUILDing SCHOLARS

描述（由申请人提供）：这项由德克萨斯大学埃尔帕索分校（UTEP）申请的规划拨款将集中精力发展一个名为“建设学者”的创新项目（建设基础设施，促进多样性：西南健康教育领袖和研究学者联盟）。长期目标是设计一个项目，通过创建一个包括德克萨斯州、新墨西哥州和亚利桑那州在内的多机构联盟，培训来自美国西南部代表性不足群体的下一代生物医学科学家。建设学者计划的具体目标如下：(1)巩固校内和跨院校的网络，与合作院校的领导合作，制定一个高效的本科生培训和指导计划；(2)对UTEP和合作机构的生物医学和社会行为研究培训基础设施进行正式的能力/需求评估，以告知计划的设计；(3)为项目的学生培训和指导方面制定战略活动。第一个目标将通过一系列虚拟电话会议来实现

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This planning grant requested by The University at Texas at El Paso (UTEP) will focus efforts on the development of an innovative program called BUILDing SCHOLARS (Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity: Southwest Consortium of Health-Oriented education Leaders and Research Scholars). The long-term goal is to design a program that will train the next generation of biomedical scientists from US Southwest underrepresented groups through the creation of a multi-institution consortium to include Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. The specific aims of the intended BUILDing SCHOLARS are as follows: (1) solidify the intra- and cross-institutional network and work together with leaders fro partner institutions to develop a highly effective program for training and mentoring undergraduate students; (2) conduct a formal capacities/needs-assessment of biomedical and socio-behavioral research training infrastructure at UTEP and partner institutions to inform the design of the program; and (3) develop strategic activities for the student training and mentoring aspect of the program. The first aim will be achieved through a series of conference calls, virtual collaborative meetings and site visits and will culminate in a face-to-face workshop at UTEP with leaders from all consortium institutions to develop the strategic plan. The second aim will be addressed through surveys of students and faculty members, and program director interviews at the primary and partner institutions. The third aim will be achieved through the development of recruitment and retention strategies, a mentor training plan, an advisory committee, and an evaluation model. The activities are innovative in part because of the trans-disciplinary emphasis on Hispanic Health; the use of an assets bundling approach to overcoming research training barriers; integration of technology to link partners and enhance student connectivity; and development of courses (face-to-face, online and blended) that integrate disciplines and institutions. This planning application is significant because it takes a regional approach to designing a multi-institutional biomedical research training and mentoring program that will meet the needs of underrepresented groups concentrated in the US Southwest.