BP-ENDURE-Atlanta: Engaging Undergraduates in Neuroscience Research

描述(申请人提供)：本科生可以通过从事研究来吸引他们对科学感兴趣。在科学家的实验室或诊所做学徒的暑期经历可能在这方面有效，但短期研究可能无法为进入神经科学等领域的博士课程提供必要的准备。BP-Endure-Atlanta项目由佐治亚州立大学(GSU)牵头，与Agnes Scott College(ASC)、Emory University和Spelman College合作，将为来自代表性不足群体的学生提供为期两年的神经科学研究沉浸和整合计划。项目评估将检验这样一种假设，即深入的研究培训，加上密集的专业发展研讨会系列，将积极影响参与者的沟通技能和对研究能力的信心，并将提高神经科学博士项目的预录率。找到一种可靠的方法来培养进入博士项目所需的技能和信心，将使更多来自不同背景的学生追求他们对科学的兴趣，并最终增加美国科学劳动力的多样性。具体目标1是利用面向大三和大四本科生的为期两年的计划，让来自低收入群体的本科生参与研究和培训，该计划包括五个主要部分：1)沉浸在亚特兰大久负盛名的大脑暑期计划中；2)第一学年获得研究助理奖学金；3)第二学年获得旅行助理奖学金，在合作伙伴T32培训计划中进行研究；4)第二学年获得Capstone研究助理奖学金；5)密集的专业发展研讨会系列。具体目标2是验证这样的假设，即这个神经科学研究项目将积极影响本科生的科学交流技能和研究能力的信心，从而提高神经科学博士项目的预录率。通过进行假设驱动的科学教育研究，该项目将填补目前关于如何最好地鼓励和准备学生以帮助满足生物医学、行为和临床研究需求的知识空白，重点是来自代表性不足群体的学生。通过在针对科学界不同群体的同行评议期刊上发表结果，我们将超越许多培训计划的标准，为科学教育的最佳实践做出贡献。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Undergraduate students can be attracted to science by engaging in research. A summer experience as an apprentice in a scientist's laboratory or clinic may be effective in this regard, but short-term research may fail to provide the preparation necessary to progress into PhD programs in fields such as neuroscience. The BP- ENDURE-Atlanta project led by Georgia State University (GSU) in partnership with Agnes Scott College (ASC), Emory University, and Spelman College, will provide a two-year neuroscience research immersion and integration program for students from underrepresented groups. Program evaluation will test the hypothesis that in-depth research training, coupled with an intensive professional development workshop series, will positively affect participants' communication skills and confidence with research abilities, and will increase rates of matriculation into neuroscience PhD programs. Identification of a reliable approach to developing the skills and confidence necessary to progress into PhD programs will enable more students from various backgrounds to pursue their interests in science, and will ultimately increase diversity in the US scientific workforce. Specific Aim 1 is to engage undergraduates from underrepresented groups in research and training, using a two-year program for junior and senior undergraduates that includes five major components: 1) a research immersion in Atlanta's well-established BRAIN summer program; 2) a Research Assistantship in the first academic year; 3) a Travel Assistantship to conduct research at a partner T32 training program in the second summer; 4) a Capstone Research Assistantship during the second academic year; and 5) an intensive professional development workshop series. Specific Aim 2 is to test the hypothesis that this neuroscience research program will positively affect scientific communication skills and confidence with research abilities among undergraduates, thereby raising rates of matriculation into neuroscience PhD programs. By conducting hypothesis-driven science education research, this project will fill a gap in current knowledge about how best to encourage and prepare students to help address biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research needs, with a focus on students from underrepresented groups. By publishing results in peer-reviewed journals targeting different subpopulations in the scientific community, we will extend beyond the norm of many training programs in terms of contributing to best practices in science education.