Building Early Awareness and Research in Science (BEARS)

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PROJECT SUMMARY Biomedical and bioengineering research are interdisciplinary fields of science that have led to medical applications, biotechnology innovations and basic research discoveries. However, the lack of educational resources and research opportunities available to underrepresented groups (UR) has limited the diversity of scientists that pursue biomedical research careers. The Building Early Awareness and Research in Science (BEARS) at California State University San Marcos, a NIBIB ESTEEMED program, will support 15 talented UR undergraduates interested in biomedical sciences from matriculation through acceptance into an advanced honors program; the ultimate goal is for them to complete their B.S. degrees, obtain admission to Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. programs, and increase the number of underrepresented biomedical scientists in the nation’s workforce. The three primary goals of the program are to 1) empower BEARS Scholars to accumulate personal, academic and research skills necessary to persist and complete their B.S. degree program, enter an advanced honors program in their junior year, and apply to graduate school in the biomedical sciences; 2) provide a comprehensive mentoring team that supports the academic, research, career, and personal/social/peer needs of the Scholars during their critical first few years; and 3) train BEARS Scholars to be STEM Ambassadors to aid in diversity recruitment, promote local awareness of biomedical and bioengineering careers, and develop leadership skills. Over three summers and two academic years, the BEARS program combines a variety of new workshops and events with leveraged campus opportunities to address several specific aims including: a) strengthen their college survival skills, and quantitative and computational competence (Q&C) in core sciences by participating in an early summer bridge program and a series of increasingly challenging Q&C workshops; b) build their confidence, identity, and communication skills as scientists by participating in inclusivity workshops, presenting their research findings, and making presentations to high schools and the public; c) foster their passion and interest in biomedical and bioengineering careers by participating in research trainings, activities, and conducting independent research at CSUSM and with partner faculty at UCSD in the Orthopaedic Surgery and Bioengineering Departments. BEARS scholars will then enter one of our many existing and high successful advanced honors programs (U- RISE, McNair, LSAMP) in which they will receive comprehensive longitudinal faculty, grantsmanship training, research and peer mentorship which will help them continue their careers into graduate schools and the biomedical workforce. Ultimately, the BEARS program will help decrease the nationwide diversity gap in biomedical research and help talented UR students become thoughtful scholars of science.