Intermountain PREP

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PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT The mission of the Intermountain PREP (IM-PREP) is to build a diverse biomedical research workforce reflecting the talent pool of our diverse population. The University of Utah is committed to fortifying, sustaining, and amplifying the STEM pipeline that trains and launches a diverse research workforce. IM-PREP will specifically address the leaks in the pipeline leading from undergraduate to doctoral training of groups underrepresented in STEM. IM-PREP will recruit students from diverse backgrounds, including pipeline relationships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities. These students demonstrate a strong drive for research and would benefit from additional research-intensive training experiences and professional development, enhancing both their successful transition to top-tier doctoral programs, as well as their long-term retention in PhD-based career tracks. In order to accomplish these goals, IM-PREP will provide key proposed activities that include (1) holistic, culturally-competent mentored experiences to undertake hypothesis-driven research; (2) scientific coursework and professional workshops that enhance strong oral and written communication skills, and instill successful strategies for applying to graduate school; (3) an innovative, inclusive support system that develops and implements an Individual Development Plan (IDP), in a mastery learning context, to enhance trainee self-efficacy and authentic scientific identity. Throughout the training process, we employ a matrix mentoring approach that incorporates peer and near-peer support, cultural STEM communities and diverse role-models. Our approach is built on University-wide momentum and infrastructure dedicated to supporting STEM equity, diversity and inclusion. As part of its institutional commitment, the University of Utah funded a pilot IM-PREP program beginning last spring, and we have shaped our proposed extramural program based on practical experience developing and leading the IM-PREP pilot and mentoring its diverse trainees. We are confident that IM-PREP will fortify its Scholars’ critical thinking and research mastery and develop a resilient mindset to persist in graduate training and beyond, where they will join and lead a more diverse biomedical research enterprise.