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

描述（由申请人提供）：我们要求我们的成功的跨学科倡议最大限度地提高学生发展（IMSD）计划的博士前（研究生）和学士前（本科）学生从在生物医学和行为科学的职业生涯中代表性不足的群体更新。我们的培训计划是与各部门和跨学科研究生课程的合作伙伴关系，利用弗吉尼亚理工大学（VT）在工程和行为与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。我们的学生驱动的博士前IMSD计划将继续与部门和跨学科计划的伙伴关系。被招募到培训计划的博士学者将参加活动， 包括实验室轮换、基础课程、研讨会和同行指导（前两年作为学员，后2-3年作为导师）。学者们还将参加VT备受赞誉的“变革性研究生教育”计划，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。“这些计划将为学者提供机会，发展技能，包括研究，口头和书面沟通，有效的赠款和科学写作，并在博士课程中生存的挑战，并最终成为生物医学研究生涯。除了参与课程以满足学位要求外，学者还将参加科学和丰富的活动，包括双周IMSD论坛，每周计划区域研讨会，每月多元文化集会和年度研究研讨会。本科IMSD计划，与副总统和本科教育院长办公室的本科生研究办公室合作，将有两个组成部分：一个非助学金的预IMSD，将涉及不同专业的新生和大学生，以及IMSD-prebac（本科）计划，将为大三和大四学生招募和提供助学金支持。在预IMSD计划的新生和大学生将获得有关课程选择的学术建议，充分准备他们持续的研究经验。预IMSD学生将选修，包括实验室课程和统计，他们将被鼓励在IMSD教师的实验室志愿者。IMSD本科（prebac）学者将学习基本的实验室技能和文化，参与独立研究（包括独立研究提案的开发），预计将进行数据分析，将发展和体验课程作为选修课，包括赠款写作，学科特定的研讨会，并在当地和国家会议上展示他们的研究成果。此外，使用在当前周期完善的方法，每个IMSD本科学者将协助研究生院的申请过程，包括GRE准备，联系潜在的项目总监，寻求费用减免，撰写候选人声明，并准备面试。本科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）。 具体的总体可衡量目标的建议VT IMSD计划包括：1。招募和招收共25名博士前（研究生）和30名学士前（本科）少数民族学生，在行为和生物医学科学中代表性不足，在五年期间参加培训计划作为研究学者。我们预计保留100%的研究生和超过75%的本科生学者; 2.制定和实施活动和计划，这将丰富和激励学者，以及促进在行为和生物医学科学和工程的研究事业的追求。3.增加少数民族学生申请并被接受进入VT行为和生物医学科学和工程及相关学科的研究生学习的人数，同时改善校园多样性的氛围。VT在“社区原则”中的承诺以及大学行政部门和部门领导以及访客委员会的全面承诺为所有学生，特别是少数民族创造一个温馨的环境，促进了这三个目标的实现。根据这一原则，佛蒙特州政府为我们目前的IMSD提供了广泛的财政支持。这种支助将在续延获得资金后继续下去，包括支助征聘和引入外部发言人的信息管理司论坛。我们相信，我们的IMSD学者将开发一套卓越的研究，沟通，科学演示和生存研究生院所需的技能。这些技能和经验将提高学者准备追求职业生涯在生物医学和行为科学和工程。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（包括来自代表性不足群体的科学家）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.