Translational Obesity Undergraduate Research Scholars (TOURS)

项目摘要 本科生的研究机会与改善学生，教师，大学的成果， 最终，涉及糖尿病、消化系统和肾脏疾病的科学领域。弗吉尼亚理工大学（VT） 促进本科研究的文化，使学生“超越界限”，以最好的准备 学生为他们未来的职业生涯。值得注意的是，a）需要基础设施来招募和留住可能不会 通常寻求本科研究机会和B）与翻译相关的知识和技能 光谱需要提高学生的能力，以有效地促进团队科学。平移 肥胖本科研究（旅游）学者计划是一个非常成功的美国农业部的改编版本 暑期学者（2007-2010年）。对于旅游学者计划，10名本科研究生将 与健康变革研究中心的教师导师（博士和/或医学博士）配对 行为在VT。目前，TOUR Scholar导师在过去和现在的NIDDK资金中拥有1400万美元， 2750万美元来自其他来源的现有研究资金。该计划有一个春季学期的独立研究 部分，以准备他们的10周的研究密集浸泡学生。在为期10周的课程中， 学生将在研究实验室内平均每周工作38小时，并参加TOUR Scholar特定课程 每周课程（例如，研究伦理、多样性和包容性、沟通技巧、研究伦理）。的 该计划的高潮与研究现场访问，包括NIDDK校园，以及他们的工作介绍 在佛蒙特大学本科生研究研讨会上我们的目标是增加 学生谁追求NIDDK相关的工作，提高学者的研究技能的能力（具体到每个 实验室），并探索导致导师保留的因素。这些成果将通过一个混合的- 方法方法，包括第三方评估人员以及学者和项目咨询委员会 反馈弗吉尼亚理工大学这项为期5年的NIDDK赠款的影响将是培养50名NIDDK培训的 研究人员和至少20名NIDDK导向的导师，以学习者为中心，体验式本科研究 程序.

PROJECT SUMMARY Undergraduate research opportunities are linked to improved outcomes for students, faculty, universities, and, ultimately, the scientific field of involving diabetes and digestive and kidney diseases. Virginia Tech (VT) promotes a culture of undergraduate research that moves students “beyond boundaries” to best prepare students for their future careers. Notably, a) infrastructure is needed to recruit and retain students who may not typically seek out undergraduate research opportunities and b) knowledge and skills related to the translational spectrum are needed to improve students' abilities to contribute effectively to team science. The Translational Obesity Undergraduate Research (TOUR) Scholar program is an adapted version of the highly successful USDA Summer Scholars (2007-2010). For the TOUR Scholars program, 10 undergraduate research students will be paired with faculty mentors (PhD and/or MDs) within the Center for Transformative Research on Health Behaviors at VT. Currently, TOUR Scholar mentors have $14M in past and current NIDDK funding, as well as $27.5M in current research funding from other sources. The program has a spring semester independent study component to prepare students for their 10-week research intensive immersion. Within the 10-week program, students will work an average of 38 hours per week within a research lab as well as attend TOUR Scholar specific curriculum weekly (e.g., grantsmanship, diversity and inclusion, communication skills, research ethics). The program culminates with research site visits, including the NIDDK campus, as well as presentation of their work at the VT Undergraduate Research Symposium. We aim to increase the proportion and representativeness of students who pursue NIDDK-related jobs, improve scholars' competencies with research skills (specific to each lab), and explore factors that lead to mentor retention. These outcomes will be measured through a mixed- methods approach, including a third-party evaluator as well as scholar and program advisory committee feedback. The impact of this 5-year NIDDK grant at Virginia Tech will be to produce 50 NIDDK-trained researchers, and at least 20 NIDDK-oriented mentors in a learner-centered, experiential undergraduate research program.