South Texas Advanced Research Training: Undergraduate Program (START-UP)

描述(由申请人提供)：在过去几十年里，获得基础生物医学科学博士学位的代表人数不足的少数族裔(URM)的比例略有增加。我们建议的南得克萨斯州高级研究培训本科生计划(STARTUP)是对通过本科生研究教育体验增强神经科学多样性蓝图计划(BP-Endure)宣布的资助机会的回应。因此，我们计划的总体目标是鼓励和准备来自圣安东尼奥和南得克萨斯州地区的初级和高级本科生进入神经科学博士课程，成功完成这些课程，并成为训练有素、具有竞争力的神经科学家。为了实现这一点，为被该项目录取的URM学生提出了一个全面的计划，包括在成功的神经学家的实验室中的广泛研究经验，以及发展和提高他们的写作、演讲和时间管理技能的机会。学生将从圣安东尼奥的五个合作机构招募进入初创公司，这五个机构分别是圣母湖大学、圣玛丽大学、三一大学、化身世界大学和德克萨斯大学圣安东尼奥分校。这些学校总共有24,527名本科生是URM(基于种族)，其中2,947人是理科专业的。此外，这些学校有大量来自低收入家庭的学生，其中许多人是他们家庭中第一个上大学的人。每所学校都建立了教职员工联系，以帮助我们招募合适的学生进入初创企业。已经确定了31名培训教师(包括来自UTSA的3名)，他们适合在实验室指导这些学生。学生们将在两个学期中平均每周参与12小时的实验室研究，在为期10周的暑期强化研究中每周参与40小时。学生们还将有机会在暑假期间在圣安东尼奥以外的机构参加七个主要神经科学项目之一的工作。除了实验室研究，学生们还将参加研讨会和杂志俱乐部，研究务虚会，并接触到来自其他机构的神经科学家。学生们都将接受有关负责任的研究行为的指导。该计划的联席主任是艾伦·弗雷泽博士和大卫·韦斯博士，他们是经验丰富的科学家和管理人员，他们以前曾运行过类似于Start-Up的计划。他们将是一个执行委员会的成员，该委员会将监督该计划的所有方面。该方案有一个正式的评估计划，以及一个成果评估程序。此外，还描述了一项计划，在全国范围内传播为设计和实施初创企业而编写的所有材料。 与公共卫生相关：生物医学科学中代表不足的少数群体(URM)的数量仍然严重不足，在过去几十年中，获得基础生物医学博士学位的URM比例略有增加。我们建议的南得克萨斯州高级研究培训少数族裔本科生计划(START-M-UP)是对通过本科生研究教育经验增强神经科学多样性蓝图计划(BP-Endure)宣布的资助机会的回应。因此，我们计划的总体目标是鼓励和准备圣安东尼奥和南得克萨斯州地区的初级和高级本科生进入神经科学博士课程，成功完成这些课程，并成为训练有素和有竞争力的神经科学家。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The proportion of underrepresented minorities (URMs) earning doctorate degrees in the basic biomedical sciences has increased modestly over the past few decades. Our proposed Program, the South Texas Advanced Research Training Undergraduate Program (START-UP) is a response to a Funding Opportunity Announcement from the Blueprint Program for Enhancing Neuroscience Diversity through Undergraduate Research Education Experiences (BP-ENDURE). As such, the overall goal of our Program is to encourage and prepare junior and senior undergraduate URMs from the San Antonio and South Texas Region to enter doctoral programs in neuroscience, to complete them successfully, and become well-trained and competitive neuroscientists. To accomplish this, a comprehensive program is proposed for the URM students accepted into the program, involving extensive research experiences in the laboratories of successful neuroscientists, and opportunities to develop and improve their writing, speaking, and time management skills. Students will be recruited into START-UP from five partner institutions in San Antonio, namely Our Lady of the Lake University, St. Mary's University, Trinity University, University of the Incarnate Word, and the University of Texas, San Antonio. Collectively these schools have 24,527 undergraduates who are URMs (based on ethnicity), of whom 2,947 are Science Majors. Also, these schools have a high number of students from low income families, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college. Faculty contacts have been established at each school to assist us recruit suitable students into START-UP. Thirty-one training faculty have been identified (including three from UTSA), who are appropriate to mentor these students in their laboratories. The students will participate in laboratory research for an average of 12 hours per week during the two academic semesters, and 40 hours/week during a 10-week intensive summer research exposure. Students will also have an opportunity to work in one of seven major neuroscience programs at institutions outside of San Antonio during the summer. In addition to their laboratory research, the students will also attend seminars and journal clubs, research retreats, and have exposure to neuroscientists from other institutions. The students will all receive instruction on the responsible conduct of research. The Co-Directors of the Program are Drs. Alan Frazer and David Weiss, experienced scientists and administrators, who have run programs similar to START-UP previously. They will be members of an Executive Committee that will oversee all aspects of the Program. There is a formal evaluation plan for the Program, as well as an outcomes assessment process. Further, a plan is described to disseminate nationally all materials developed for the design and implementation of START-UP. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The number of underrepresented minorities (URMs) in the biomedical sciences remains woefully inadequate, and the proportion of URMs earning doctorate degrees in the basic biomedical sciences has increased very modestly over the past few decades. Our proposed Program, the South Texas Advanced Research Training Minority Undergraduate Program (START-M-UP) is a response to the Funding Opportunity Announcement from the Blueprint Program for Enhancing Neuroscience Diversity through Undergraduate Research Education Experiences (BP-ENDURE). As such, the overall goal of our Program is to encourage and prepare junior and senior undergraduate URMs from San Antonio and the South Texas Region to enter doctoral programs in neuroscience, to complete them successfully, and to become well-trained and competitive neuroscientists.