UC MERCED MARC PREP

说明(由申请者提供)：国家统计数据清楚地表明，在生物医学/生物行为学科中获得较高学位的代表人数不足的少数群体的数量存在差异。鉴于加州大学默塞德分校(UC Merced)是10所加州大学校区中拉美裔本科生人数最多的老牌拉美裔服务机构(HSI)，加州大学默塞德分校处于实现MARC U*STAR培训补助金最大收益的理想位置。来自我们校园的数据表明，有必要通过不断补充主要是数学和化学课程的教学来增强和丰富我们的Marc预科学生的量化技能。加州大学默塞德分校建立的各种培训项目，如UCLEADS、CAMP和McNair，表明了在加州大学默塞德分校建立MARC U*STAR项目的坚实基础。由加州大学其他校区现任或前任MARC董事组成的顾问委员会将极大地促进和加强加州大学默塞德分校MARC的建立。此外，目前的提案是由以前的一名NIH学员制定和提交的，清楚地表明了NIH培训计划的成功。我们建议的目标是：1)通过在MARC前期发展阶段的补充、同行辅导，增强和丰富学者的定量技能，特别是在化学和数学方面；2)通过发展他们阅读和批判性分析科学文献，特别是同行评审论文的能力，提高学者的学术能力；3)发展学者对科学方法的欣赏和理解，包括通过展示提出假设驱动的、具有适当控制的、以逻辑、逐步的方式解决问题的适当控制的能力，来发展他们应用科学方法的能力，4)通过让学者有多个机会练习他们的口头和书面技能并与其他同行建立网络，来完善他们的专业技能；5)通过RCR补充培训课程，发展学者对他们负责任的研究行为的理解和欣赏；以及6)加强和改进教师导师的指导、教学和资助人技能，目的是这些改进将对学者的进步产生直接的好处。实现我们的目标将使我们能够实现我们的短期和长期目标：1)(短)确保90%的MARC学者和参与计划活动的非奖学金学生提交研究生院申请，其中约80%的学生将在助学金的前5年被生物医学研究生博士/医学硕士项目录取，以及2)(长)在未来10年，我们预计90%的MARC学者和非奖学金助理完成博士学位或博士/医学博士/医学联合学位并从事生物医学研究。尽管加州大学默塞德分校的大多数本科生都是生物专业的，但目前攻读生物医学博士学位的学生数量很少，这使得我们能够在短时间内对目前的人数产生深远的影响。总而言之，加州大学默塞德分校的HSI地位、人口结构以及对本科生加强培训的需求，使其成为建立MARC U*STAR计划的理想培训机构。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): National statistics clearly indicate a disparity in the number of underrepresented minorities obtaining higher degrees in biomedical/biobehavioral disciplines. Given that the University of California, Merced (UC Merced) is an established Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) with the highest number of Hispanic undergraduates enrolled of any of the 10 UC campuses, UC Merced is ideally situated to realize the greatest benefit from a MARC U*STAR training grant. Data from our campus indicate a justified need to enhance and enrich the quantitative skills of our pre- MARC students via constant supplemental instruction in primarily math and chemistry courses. The establishment of various training programs such as UCLEADS, CAMP and McNair at UC Merced indicates a strong foundation from which to establish a MARC U*STAR program at UC Merced. An advisory board that is constituted by current or previous MARC directors from other UC campuses will greatly facilitate and enhance the establishment of MARC at UC Merced. Furthermore, the current proposal was developed and submitted by a previous NIH trainee, providing a clear indication of the success of NIH training programs. The objectives of our proposal are to: 1) enhance and enrich the scholars' quantitative skills, especially in chemistry and math, through supplemental, peer-tutoring during the pre-MARC developmental phase 2) enhance the scholars' academic capabilities by developing their ability to read and critically analyze the scientific literature, especially peer-reviewed papers, 3) develop the scholars' appreciation for and understanding of the scientific method including developing their ability to apply the scientific method by demonstrating the ability to propose hypothesis-driven, experimental protocols with appropriate controls that solve problems in a logical, stepwise fashion, 4) refine their professional skills set by involving the scholars in multiple opportunities to practice their oral and written skills and to network with other peers, 5) develop the scholars' understanding of and appreciation for their responsible conduct in research through a supplemental RCR training course, and 6) enhance and improve the mentorship, pedagogical and grantsmanship skills of the faculty mentors with the intent that these refinements will result in direct benefits in the advancement of the scholars. Addressing our objectives will allow us to achieve our short- and long-range goals, which are: 1) (short) to ensure that 90% of the MARC scholars and non-scholarship students participating in the program activities submit a graduate school application, with approximately 80% of these students to be accepted into graduate PhD/MD programs in biomedical sciences in the first 5 years of the grant, and 2) (long) over the next 10 years we expect that 90% of our MARC scholars and non-scholarship associates to complete a PhD or joint PhD/MD and pursue a career in biomedical research. Given the low number of students currently pursuing PhDs in biomedical sciences despite the fact that a majority of undergraduates at UC Merced are in biology majors allows us to make a profound impact on our current numbers in a short period. In summary, UC Merced's HSI status, demographics and demonstrated need for enhanced training of its undergraduates makes it an ideal training institution to establish a MARC U*STAR program.