Summer Short Course in Biophysics

说明(由申请人提供)：健康和职业差距继续对代表性不足的少数群体的健康和经济结果产生负面影响。弥合这一差距的一个机制是增加少数族裔在受人尊敬的专业职位上的代表性。由于科学发现的持久影响，生物物理和生物医学研究是一个具有大量就业机会和产生更广泛影响的机会的领域。增加少数群体在生物物理学中的代表性将增加对代表不足的少数群体特有的健康问题潜在兴趣的研究人员；增加后代代表不足的少数群体导师的数量，并可能增加那些原本不会探索研究事业的少数群体的经济前景。拟议的生物物理学会(BPS)生物物理学短期课程的预期结果是增加生物物理学和生物医学研究中的少数人代表。为实现这一目标，将实现以下目标。1]让一群才华横溢、代表性不足和/或处于不利地位的学生在研究生院第一学期的严酷环境中学习。2]向这组学生介绍选定生物物理学领域的基本概念和方法。3]在这群学生中建立职业信心和能力。4]让这些学生接触到生物物理研究的兴奋。5]通过课堂、研究和研讨会说明物理、化学和其他定量科学如何在推动医学科学发展中日益重要。6]建立和发展任职人数不足的生物物理学家网络，他们将在少数群体和任职人数不足的大学和社区内担任“生物物理学大使”，并作为校友相互支持的系统。这门课程将招收12名来自弱势背景但接受过物理/数学/化学培训的本科生，该课程将在暑期学期之间持续11周。这门课程的主要内容包括专家的说教讲座、教师实验室的指导研究以及通过研讨会进行的专业发展。该课程现在已有四年历史，目前的状态是非常成功的，未来的资金对于在这一成功的基础上再接再厉至关重要。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Health and professional disparities continue to negatively impact health and economic outcomes of underrepresented minorities. One mechanism for bridging this gap is to increase minority representation in respected professional positions. Biophysical and biomedical research is a field with significant employment opportunities as well as opportunities for broader impact owing to the lasting effects of scientifi discoveries. Increasing minority representation in biophysics would increase researchers with potential interest in underrepresented minority-specific health issues; increase the number of underrepresented minority mentors for future generations, and likely increase the financial prospects of underrepresented minorities that otherwise would not explore careers in research. The expected outcome of the proposed Biophysical Society (BPS) Short Course in Biophysics is to increase minority representation in biophysics and biomedical research. To achieve this goal, the following objectives will be met. 1] To expose a group of talented underrepresented and/or otherwise disadvantaged students to the rigors of the first semester of graduate school. 2] To introduce this group of students to basic concepts and methods in selected areas of biophysics. 3] To build professional confidence and competence in this group of students. 4] To expose these students to the excitement of biophysical research. 5] To illustrate through classes, research, and seminars how physics, chemistry, and other quantitative sciences are increasingly important in advancing medical science. 6] To establish and grow a network of under-represented biophysicists who will serve as "biophysics ambassadors" within minority and underrepresented universities and communities and serve as an alumni support system for each other. The Course will recruit twelve undergraduate students from disadvantaged backgrounds but with training in physics/mathematics/chemistry, and the course will run for 11 weeks during the summer between academic semesters. Key elements of the course include didactic lectures from experts, mentored research in faculty laboratories, and professional development through workshops. The Course, now four years old in its current state, has been remarkably successful and future funding is essential to build upon this success.