IMSD at Stony Brook University: Maximizing Excellence in Research for Graduate Education

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Project Summary / Abstract IMSD at Stony Brook University: Maximizing Excellence in Research for Graduate Education The Stony Brook University Initiative for Maximizing Student Development: Maximizing Excellence in Research for Graduate Education (IMSD MERGE) provides a comprehensive and inclusive academic, research, and professional development training that will increase the number of underrepresented (UR) biomedical science doctoral trainees advancing onto academic and research career paths. This training program provides academic support and professional development opportunities that are specific and customized to the needs of UR trainees. The goal of the IMSD MERGE training program will be carried out through three objectives: 1. Providing incoming UR doctoral students with the academic training and financial support required to ensure that they reach parity in performance outcomes with their well-represented (WR) peers in core courses, qualifying exams and navigation of first- year laboratory rotations. 2. Providing rigorous, inclusive research training and mentoring to prepare trainees to become ethical, independent scientists while fostering their self-efficacy and science identity. 3. Providing trainees with opportunities to develop professional skills to prepare them to secure independent funding and succeed as faculty and researchers at the highest levels of the scientific workforce. These aims will be accomplished through strategic activities carefully designed to support IMSD MERGE trainees’ academic, research, and career success: 1) Funded research opportunities for a steady-state of ten doctoral students. 2) Academic preparation focused on metacognitive skill development and support in gateway courses to ensure UR doctoral students achieve parity in grade performance with their majority peers. 3) Promoting scientific engagement by fostering productive mentoring relationships and opportunities through structured mentor training for trainees and their research advisors. 4) Professional development training focused on the development of advanced writing ability, preparing trainees for successful acquisition of research funding and entry into the academic and research workforce. IMSD MERGE collaborates with biomedical science faculty from eight graduate programs at Stony Brook, addressing critical issues impeding training and career success for UR scientists. Project leadership will identify key junctures in academic development and design interventions and support efforts to improve underrepresented doctoral students’ persistence and performance outcomes. Stony Brook is strongly committed to the objectives of IMSD MERGE, with various units committing additional funding support to expand the population of underrepresented Stony Brook doctoral students benefiting from the activities implemented for this training program.