Undergraduate research training for diversity in environmental health sciences

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The Undergraduate Research Education Program (Undergirding Potential Program: UP Program) in Environmental Health Sciences (EHS) is a collaboration among the University of Michigan (Michigan), Hampton University (Hampton), and Fisk University (Fisk) with the goal of increasing diversity in the EHS research workforce and accelerating improvements in environmental quality and public health. Faculty from Michigan's EHS Department (School of Public Health) with robust research programs on NIEHS priority areas will mentor four undergraduate students per summer. Hampton and Fisk Universities are historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) with developing research interests in EHS among both faculty and students. Students will be co-selected by Fisk, Hampton and Michigan UP Program leaders (Drs O'Neill, Charles, Heyliger and Martin) and matched with faculty mentors. These faculty will also explore future research and training collaborations in EHS across the institutions. Selected students must have completed two years in an EHS-relevant baccalaureate degree program, in biology, chemistry, environmental sciences, physics, engineering, or mathematics. Trainees will have summer research experiences at Michigan with continued communications throughout the year. Topics for research projects include epigenetic and genomic impacts of exposures, and human health aspects of environmental exposures (including cancer and other outcomes associated with pesticides, heavy metals, components of plastics, air pollutants, and climate-related exposures). The partnership between Michigan and the HBCUs will increase the HBCU student's interest in EHS as a career and achieve the long-term goal of diversifying the EHS workforce by providing `early pipeline' opportunities to underrepresented students in EHS. Students will receive both hands-on research experiences, education, and skills needed to pursue graduate school and careers in EHS. Participants will receive up to two summers of training and education, including a full-time summer mentored research experience in EHS at Michigan, training in responsible conduct of research, educational activities, lectures, and group collaboration. They will benefit from coordination with several existing undergraduate internship programs at Michigan, and the EHS Environmental Toxicology and Epidemiology Program (ETEP) T32 training grant for pre- and post- doctoral students, now in its 33rd year of NIEHS support. Trainees will have access to graduate students, including those from under-represented backgrounds, with first-hand knowledge of the process and career options. The Michigan-Hampton-Fisk UP Program R25 is structured to specifically meet the goals of: (1) diversifying the EHS workforce and (2) advancing the NIEHS mission, and (3) enriching EHS scholarship and training at all three universities.