Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Scientists - Cycle 5

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PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT This is a proposal for continued funding for the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS), now renamed the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Scientists. The low rates of participation in the STEM by minoritized populations relative to their proportion of the U.S. population remains a significant and ongoing concern.The NIH has recognized this disparity and supports a wide range of programs geared toward addressing this issue. Trainees participate in research and other career development activities however there are few national research symposia designed specifically for such students to gather and present their work, while also learning about cutting edge science, and experiencing career and professional development, and mentoring. Although minoritized students attend scientific society sponsored national meetings, the paucity of their numbers at any one meeting can sometimes be daunting and discouraging. Many scientific societies have recognized this and have developed programs focused on welcoming such trainees, however the issue persists. Thus, in addition to attendance at such discipline specific society and national meetings, meetings focused on minoritized students and their specific needs for professional development and mentoring are critically needed. Since 2001, the ABRCMS has been such a forum. Organized and managed by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), ABRCMS hosts increasing numbers of students from backgrounds underrepresented in STEM, enhancing their exposure to cutting edge science, and fostering their pursuance of advanced careers in STEM, focusing on the biomedical and behavioral sciences. The ASM has received funding to support ABRCMS for 4 cycles and seeks continued funding for another 5 years to continue this critical, timely and important work. ABRCMS has arguably become the largest and best recognized scientific conference for minoritized students, with >5,200 students and educators at the 2019 conference. Furthermore, ABRCMS provides a unique recruitment opportunity for many graduate programs across the country to support their efforts in diversifying their programs. Thus the importance and role of ABRCMS in increasing STEM diversity nationally cannot be overstated. Throughout its 20-year history, ABRCMS has had clear, operational goals that have evolved to meet the changing needs of minoritized students in STEM. In this funding cycle, the specific aims are to 1) Provide opportunities for developing scientists to share their research via in person and virtual presentation platforms; 2) prepare developing scientists for successful transition to graduate or professional training via exposure to the cutting edge science, professional development, and biomedical and behavioral sciences research careers; and 3) provide professional development opportunities for faculty advisers, research scientists, and program directors to enhance their roles as advisers, mentors, educators, and leaders.