Florida International University MARC U*STAR Program

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): FIU is a public, research institution (RU/H) located in Miami. It has an enrollment of ~50,000 students (>73% UR), emphasizes research in its mission and includes health and diversity as strategic themes. FIU provides an excellent opportunity to develop a significant number of well-rounded, underrepresented (UR) scientists for biomedical research careers. In 2007, FIU launched a rigorous pilot biological sciences curriculum for freshmen called Quantifying Biology in the classroom (QBIC). Having impressively graduated three freshman-through-senior cohorts of graduates, QBIC successfully passed all academic and administrative evaluation and review steps, and is now institutionalized, beginning Fall 2013, as a Quantitative Biology Track in FIU's Biological Sciences Department. QBIC offers a pool of talented & exceptionally prepared scholars for FIU's MARC U*STAR Program. For each year of our proposed 5-year grant period, we request funding to support 8 juniors, through graduation, for two years (totaling 40), who will be selected from a pool of talented and well-prepared honors students in QBIC and traditional curricula, since not all of our talented students are in QBIC. QBIC is a 4-year program developed by FIU's biological sciences, statistics, mathematics, chemistry, physics, computer science and biomedical engineering faculty. It is an integrated lock-step cohort "block" program where students take classes together, and courses within blocks have identified & coordinated areas of overlapping synergy. Scholars get to see how biological data is analyzed, how mathematics can model biological processes, and teaching units show them how sound biological theories are generated. Part 1 (freshmen & sophomores) integrates calculus & statistics with biology, genetics, ecology & chemistry using a Teaching Pentagon; Part 2 (juniors & seniors), offers tailored-upper level courses. MARC U*STAR trainees will actively participate in directed scientific research & enrichment activities that include modeling workshops, journal club activities, professional development workshops, science cafes, scientific presentations & participation in extramural research. Thus, the three-prong short and long term goals and measurable objectives for FIU's MARC U*STAR Program include: (1) provide motivated, honors students with the tools & skills that allow them to be academically competitive & successful; (2) immerse them in supportive & stimulating research environments with activities that enhance & nurture their interest in science, (3) increase the number of UR who continue on to, excel in and complete biomedical or behavioral sciences Ph.D. or MD/PhD programs.