G-RISE at Delaware State University: Diversifying neuroscience through predoctoral training at an HBCU

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Diversifying neuroscience through predoctoral training at an HBCU Delaware State University (DSU), a Historically-Black university with an emerging strength in neuroscience research proposes a G-RISE program focused on predoctoral training in neuroscience. Our interdisciplinary program will support a diverse group of students in our Neuroscience PhD program. Our young PhD program has produced 10 graduates, six from underrepresented groups and half of them African-American. With our G-RISE project we will build on our record of graduating diverse neuroscience doctorates, while addressing weaknesses identified by our program self-assessment – a small pool of qualified applicants and a low rate of publications among program students. Our G-RISE support program will link students in Neuroscience PhD program into a supportive, research-rich community that will provide extensive professional and skills development including: 1) A two-semester, 3-credit Professional Development course with a focus on responsible conduct of research, ensuring rigor in research, diverse career pathways, and writing both NSF and NIH fellowship grant proposals; 2) A weekly RISE seminar that will build cohort cohesiveness and strengthen students’ professional skills and their understanding of how to do rigorous science; 3) Quantitative skills and Scientific Writing courses to provide more support to students in two areas where they are challenged; and 3) a formal program induction/orientation and enhanced mentoring by culturally-competent mentors. The professional development course grant writing and extensive mentoring will help the students to develop their identities as professional scientist, while the scientific writing course will provide the support to get them published. Grounded in the literature, these strategies will both provide the G-RISE students with strong academic support, and all of the project components are sustainable and transferrable to other schools and programs. The Evaluation Plan includes focus groups for summative assessment and validated, baseline and follow-up surveys to assess the development of participants' self-efficacy (research and academic) and identities as scientists and researchers. The number of PhD graduates in neuroscience has grown rapidly since the beginning of the century, and currently over 700 neuroscience doctorates are awarded annually, but only about 20 each year awarded to African-Americans. Currently, DSU is the only HBCU that awards the PhD in neuroscience, so supporting and strengthening its program to produce 3 – 4 neuroscience PhD graduates each year will have a significant impact on the diversity of the doctoral workforce.