GatorSTAR: A New MARC U*STAR Program at the University of Florida

 描述(由申请者提供)：作为本科生参与研究增加了在科学领域攻读研究生的机会，并增加了未被充分代表(UR)学生的保留率和学术成就。然而，尽管佛罗里达大学是一家主要的生物医学研究机构，但只有不到10%的佛罗里达大学新生注册参加监督/指导研究。GatorSTAR MARC项目的5年目标是增加毕业并进入生物医学和行为研究博士课程的UR学生数量。为了促进学生早日进入研究领域，GatorSTAR计划将重点放在课程改革和活动上，以提高学生对基础科学和数学课程的准备，增强他们作为专业的科学研究意识，并培训学生在生物医学研究专业。具体的创新包括继续开发X-Lab Boot Camp，这是一门身临其境的跨学科实验室课程，入学前MARC参与者将在家中完成一项新生桥梁计划；一项新的基于课程的本科生研究体验，将成为该大学普通教育计划的一部分；通过个性评估增强导师-学员配对计划；以及MARC成就计划，其中将包括社交和专业发展活动的混合，以在计划参与者之间建立凝聚感，并提供包括科学伦理在内的科学生活关键要素的指导/经验。到大三时，每个MARC学生将与20多名由NIH资助的教师中的一人配对，与UF Health现有的T32项目协调。初级MARC实习生将参加ABRCMS会议，正在崛起的高级MARC实习生将参加东南地区Partnering T32项目的夏季校外研究体验，高级MARC实习生将在教师导师的陪同下在全国专业会议上展示他们的研究成果。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Participation in research as an undergraduate increases the chances of pursuing graduate study in science fields, and increases retention and academic achievement among underrepresented (UR) students. However, despite the position of the University of Florida as a major biomedical research institution, less than 10% of UR freshmen enroll in supervised/mentored research. The 5-year goal of the GatorSTAR MARC program is to increase the number of UR students who graduate and enter doctoral programs in biomedicine and behavioral studies. To promote the early entry of students into research, the GatorSTAR program will include a focus on curricular reforms and activities that increase the students' preparedness for the foundational science and mathematics courses, increase their awareness of scientific research as a profession, and train the students in biomedical research professions. Specific innovations include the continued development of the X-Lab Boot Camp, which is an immersive, cross-disciplinary laboratory course that matriculating pre-MARC participants would complete near their homes in a freshman bridge program, a new course-based undergraduate research experience that will be part of the university's General Education Program, a mentor-mentee matching program enhanced by personality assessments, and the MARC Achievement program, which will include a mixture of social and professional development activities that build a sense of cohesion among program participants and provide instruction/experience in key elements of scientific life, including scientific ethics. By their juior year, each MARC student will be paired with one of more than 20 NIH-funded faculty, in coordination with existing T32 programs in UF Health. Junior MARC trainees will attend the ABRCMS meeting, rising senior MARC trainees will participate in a summer extramural research experience at partnering T32 programs in the southeast, and senior MARC trainees will present the results of their research at a national professional conference, accompanied by their faculty mentor.