Promoting diversity in research training and mentoring for underrepresented minority Students (URM).

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Summary The overall objective of the R25 Research Education Program(REP) summer experience is to establish an approach for providing minority students attending USC with the support needed to increase diversity in the field of biomedical science and aging by providing mentorship and research training opportunities for young URM biomedical scientists with unique experiences and perspectives. To accomplish this objective, we will: I) use our already developed and validated innovative strategies to recruit 100 URMs to the different biomedical science disciplines and aging related research experiences at USC. We will attract these students by conducting seminars, workshops, and lectures at the USC campuses throughout the academic year. II) Organize a USC Biomedical Science Forum where 50 URM students from a pool of 100 URMs will be invited for a two-day orientation during the spring semester. These students will visit USC and its biomedical science programs while also obtaining information on the ten-week summer REP. III) Provide a 10-week summer educational mentoring and research opportunity at USC for ten REP students every year for five years. For the summer program, we will,1) match each REP participant with a mentor to initiate the development of an individual development plan(IDP), and organize a weekly mentoring activity, 2) organize professional development workshop training for URMs in aging research, 3) implement a weekly Science/Journal club meeting to discuss publications related to aging research, 4) organize workshop training in professional development to synergize REP students with USC training programs in professional development activities allowing networking with other young colleagues, and 5) provide scientific research for REP students to enhance their research career development in biomedical sciences and promote graduate school aspirations. Beyond the summer REP, we will provide research and mentoring opportunities to continue to synergize REP students with USC training programs. By providing academic support initiatives, including mentoring, professional development activities and training in biomedical science and aging related research opportunities, we will be able to increase diversity in the field of biomedical science and aging related research for young URM biomedical scientists. Continued "mentoring " of REP students will go on until they complete their baccalaureate degree in biomedical science and will even continue finally to their matriculation into graduate programs in biomedical sciences at USC. We expect that 70% of REP students in their senior years will have research experience, evident in publications (manuscripts and conference abstracts). The research experience will prepare them for graduate programs, while the publications will make them competitive for graduate school admission. We plan to increase awareness for at least 60% of URMs, freshman through senior years in different career opportunities in aging research.