Virginia Tech Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (VT-IMSD)

描述(由申请者提供)：我们要求续订我们成功的跨学科最大化学生发展计划(IMSD)计划，该计划面向生物医学和行为科学职业中代表性较低的群体的博士预科(研究生)和学士预科(本科生)学生。我们的培训计划是与各部门和跨学科研究生计划的合作，利用弗吉尼亚理工大学(VT)在工程学和行为科学和生命科学方面的卓越历史。根据过去四年的经验教训，我们将专注于招募和培训VT擅长的五个核心研究项目的学者，包括：1.遗传学、生物信息学和计算生物学；2.生物医学工程；3.行为/心理科学；4.微生物学；5.分子和细胞生物学。我们以学生为主导的IMSD博士前项目将继续与各系和跨学科项目保持合作关系。被招募参加培训计划的博士生将参加以下活动 包括实验室轮换、预科课程、研讨会和同伴指导(前两年作为辅导者，最后2-3年作为辅导者)。奖学金获得者还将参加VT广受好评的“变革性研究生教育”项目，其中包括“为未来的教授做准备”、“GTA研讨会”和“公民学者研讨会”等课程。这些项目将为学者提供发展技能的机会，包括研究、口头和书面交流、有效的资助和科学写作，以及在博士项目和最终生物医学研究生涯中经受住挑战。除了参与完成学位要求的项目外，这些学者还将参加科学和丰富活动，包括每两周一次的IMSD论坛、每周一次的项目领域研讨会、每月一次的多元文化集会和一次年度研究研讨会。本科生IMSD项目是与副总统兼本科生教育主任办公室的本科生研究办公室合作开展的，将由两部分组成：一是无津贴的Pre-IMSD项目，将包括不同专业的一年级和二年级学生；以及IMSD-Prebac(本科生)项目，将招聘大三和大四学生并为其提供津贴支持。IMSD预科课程的大一和大二学生将收到有关选课的学术建议，为他们持续的研究经历做好充分准备。IMSD预科学生将选修包括实验室课程和统计学在内的课程，并鼓励他们在IMSD教职员工的实验室做志愿者。学院本科生将学习基本的实验室技能和文化，参与独立研究(包括制定他们的独立研究计划)，进行数据分析，将发展和体验课程作为选修课，包括拨款撰写、学科专题研讨会，并在本地和全国会议上发布和口头介绍他们的研究成果。此外，使用当前周期中完善的方法，每一位IMSD本科生都将得到研究生院申请过程的协助，包括GRE准备、联系潜在的项目主任、寻求学费减免、撰写候选人声明和准备面试。本科生学者将与博士学者一起参加科学和丰富活动(论坛、研讨会、集会和研究研讨会)。拟议的VT-IMSD计划的具体总体可衡量目标包括：1.招募和招收总共25名博士前(研究生)和30名学士(本科生)预科学生，他们在行为和生物医学科学领域的代表性较低，参加为期五年的研究学者培训计划。我们预计留住100%的毕业生和超过75%的本科生；2.开发和实施活动和计划，以丰富和激励学者，并促进在行为和生物医学科学和工程领域的研究生涯。3.增加弗吉尼亚大学行为和生物医学、工程及相关学科研究生的申请和录取人数，同时改善校园多元化环境。VT在《社区原则》中的承诺，以及大学行政部门、部门领导和来访者委员会为所有学生，特别是少数族裔学生创造一个友好的环境的全面承诺，促进了这三个目标的实现。本着这一原则，VT管理部门为我们目前的IMSD提供了广泛的财政支持。如果为续签提供资金，这种支助将继续下去，包括对招聘和招收外部发言者的管理信息系统论坛的支助。我们相信，我们的IMSD学者将发展出一套在研究、沟通、科学演示和研究生院生存所需的卓越技能。这些技能和经验将加强学者在生物医学、行为科学和工程学领域的职业准备。我们对这个项目的信心也是基于PD和Co-PD以及教师导师在培训未来科学家(包括那些来自代表不足的群体的科学家)方面的记录。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We request renewal of our successful interdisciplinary Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) program for pre-doctoral (graduate) and pre-baccalaureate (undergraduate) students from groups underrepresented in careers in the biomedical and behavioral sciences. Our training program is a partnership with departments and interdisciplinary graduate programs which takes advantage of Virginia Tech's (VT) history of excellence in Engineering and the Behavioral and Life Sciences. With lessons learned in the last four years, we will focus on recruiting and training scholars in five core research programs in which VT excels, including: 1. Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology; 2. Biomedical Engineering; 3. Behavioral/Psychological Sciences; 4. Microbiological Sciences; and 5. Molecular and Cellular Biology. Our student-driven pre-doctoral IMSD program will continue to be a partnership with departments and interdisciplinary programs. Doctoral Scholars recruited into the training program will participate in activities that include lab rotations, foundation courses, seminars, and peer mentoring (as mentee in the first two years and mentor the last 2-3 years). The Scholars also will participate in VT's much-acclaimed "Transformative Graduate Education" program that includes courses like "Preparing the Future Professoriate", "GTA Workshop", and "Citizen Scholar Seminar." These programs will provide opportunities for scholars to develop skill sets that include research, oral and writtn communication, effective grant and scientific writing, and surviving the challenges in a doctoral program and ultimately a biomedical research career. In addition to engaging in programs in fulfillment of their degree requirements, the scholars will participate in scientific and enrichmen activities that include a bi-weekly IMSD forum, a weekly program area seminar, a monthly multicultural assembly, and an annual research symposium. The undergraduate IMSD program, a partnership with the Office of Undergraduate Research in the Office of the Vice President and Dean for Undergraduate Education, will have two components: a non-stipend Pre- IMSD that will involve freshmen and sophomores in diverse majors, and the IMSD-prebac (Undergraduate) program that will recruit and provide stipend support for juniors and seniors. Freshmen and sophomores in the Pre-IMSD program will receive academic advice on course selection that adequately prepares them for a sustained research experience. Pre-IMSD students will take electives that include a laboratory course and statistics and they will be encouraged to volunteer in the labs of IMSD faculty. The IMSD Undergraduate (prebac) Scholars will learn basic lab skills and culture, participate in independent research (including development of their independent research proposal), be expected to carry out data analysis, take developmental and experiential classes as electives including grant writing, discipline-specific seminars, and give poster and oral presentations of their research results at local and national conferences. Additionally, using approaches perfected in the current cycle, each IMSD Undergraduate Scholar will be assisted with the Graduate School application process including GRE preparation, contacting potential program directors, seeking fee waivers, writing the candidate statement, and preparing for interviews. Undergraduate Scholars will participate in scientific and enrichment activities with the doctoral scholars (forum, seminar, assembly and research symposium). Specific overall measurable objectives of the proposed VT-IMSD program include: 1. Recruit and enroll a total of 25 pre-doctoral (graduate) and 30 pre-baccalaureate (undergraduate) minority students, underrepresented in the behavioral and biomedical sciences, to participate in a training program as research scholars during a five-year period. We anticipate retention of 100% of the graduate and more than 75% of the undergrad scholars; 2. Develop and implement activities and programs that will enrich and motivate scholars as well as facilitate the pursuit of a research career in the behavioral and biomedical sciences and engineering. 3. Increase the number of minority students applying for and being accepted into graduate studies in behavioral and biomedical sciences and engineering and related disciplines at VT while improving the campus climate for diversity. Achieving these three aims is facilitated by VT's pledges in the "Principles of Community" and a total commitment of the University Administration and Departmental Leaders and the Board of Visitors to create a welcoming environment for all students, especially minorities. Consistent with this principle, the VT administration provided extensive financial support for our current IMSD. This support which will continue if the renewal is funded includes support for recruitment and IMSD forums that bring in outside speakers. We are confident that our IMSD scholars will develop a set of skills needed for excellence in research, communication, scientific presentations and surviving graduate school. These skills and experiences will enhance scholar preparation for pursuing careers in biomedical and behavioral sciences and engineering. Our confidence in this program also is based on the track record of the PD and Co-PDs, as well as that of faculty mentors, in training future scientists including those from underrepresented groups.