U-RISE at University of North Florida

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Project Summary/Abstract The mission of the proposed Undergraduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (U-RISE) program at University of North Florida (UNF) is to significantly increase the proportion of students from underrepresented (UR) ethnic/racial minority or economically disadvantaged groups completing undergraduate degrees and PhD or MD/PhD programs in biomedical sciences. We propose to develop this U-RISE program across the UNF Biology, Chemistry, and Physics Departments; 44% of students from these programs are from UR ethnic/racial minority or economically disadvantaged groups. The UNF Biomedical Sciences program bridges these UNF departments with Mayo Clinic Florida, a major research-intensive academic medical center six miles from UNF. This provides a strong foundation for the proposed program via established inter-institutional initiatives that provide undergraduate research training. Pre-U-RISE scholars will be selected in spring of their freshman year. With full financial support from UNF, scholars will begin the pre-U-RISE program in the summer before sophomore year and gain critical experience in the responsible conduct of research as well as research training at UNF or Mayo Clinic during their sophomore year to promote student retention. Pre-U-RISE scholars will matriculate into the U-RISE program during the summer prior to junior year. As U-RISE scholars, students will complete two summer internships, with at least one at a research intense institution (i.e. Mayo Clinic, University of Central Florida, Florida State University). Scholars will also pursue academic year research at Mayo Clinic or UNF, building their scientific identity and achieving full immersion in research. Through research, scholars will develop myriad technical, operational, and professional skills. Other key aspects of the proposed program include three-tier academic/research/peer mentoring, outreach, and professional development activities that foster trainee independence, collaboration, and communication skills. These all represent evidence-based interventions for increasing the persistence of students from UR groups in biomedical science. The proposed program includes four major objectives: 1) Early identification and recruitment of students from UR groups (minority/economically disadvantaged) and mentoring starting at end of freshman year; 2) a rigorous academic preparedness program with continuous academic year research experiences at UNF or Mayo Clinic Florida; 3) two summer research experiences; and, 4) a support system achieved through individualized mentoring, advising, and continuous academic and financial support. Through these objectives, our U-RISE program aims to yield outcomes that include increasing the 4-year graduation rate for scholars by >2-fold above current UNF baselines and creating a diverse cohort of students that matriculate into graduate programs. This will ultimately enhance the regional biomedical science training environment and increase workforce diversity.