Minnesota Craniofacial and Oral Health Research Experience

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Project Summary/Abstract The Minnesota Craniofacial and Oral health Research Experience (MnCORE) aims to introduce new generations of future independent investigators to questions in craniofacial, oral health, and dental research. Drawing on the research environment at the University of Minnesota, this training program brings together highly qualified research mentors in state-of-the-art research environments with diverse, talented undergraduates to engage in a research project. The research strengths of this training program include immunology/cancer, biomaterials, bone biology and microbiology. The foundation of the program is an integrated ten-week residential summer research and career development program at the University of Minnesota. MnCORE has four integrated components: 1) completion of a research project, 2) weekly group seminars, 3) introduction to oral biology and dental career paths, and 4) development of professional skills. To help recruit a diverse applicant pool for MnCORE, we are working with North Hennepin Community College/ Bemidji State University, the University of Texas-San Antonio, and the University of Minnesota’s Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Program (LSSURP). We will also work with LSSURP to engage with other summer research programs at the University of Minnesota and provide enrichment activities and social support that complement MnCORE’s goals. To fulfill our training mission with our available resources, we request support for 8 undergraduate students per year for the 5-year funding period. To ensure we are meeting the needs of MnCORE trainees, we will use a comprehensive and adaptive evaluation plan for rigorous programmatic assessment and continuous program improvement.