U-RISE at the University of Texas at El Paso

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Project Summary The primary mission of the proposed U-RISE at UTEP is to develop a cohort of diverse, research-oriented underrepresented (UR) undergraduate students who possess the requisite knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm to be competitive for and advance into biomedical sciences doctoral degree programs and ultimately contribute to the diversity in the biomedical research workforce. The rationale for this program is based on the stated goals of the NIH to increase UR representation at all levels of the biomedical research pipeline. The UTEP U- RISE Program will be an inter-departmental training program with trainees in the Biological Sciences, Chemistry & Biochemistry, and Psychology programs. The primary goal of the U-RISE at UTEP is to increase the participation and retention of undergraduate students from UR groups in biomedical sciences research through training opportunities that prepare them for advanced degree programs in the biomedical sciences. To accomplish our goal, we will pursue the following specific objectives: (1) Enhance the biomedical sciences research skills of U-RISE trainees; (2) Promote the development of essential supplementary skills in research through training opportunities in written and oral presentations and research design and methodologies; (3) Create a sense of community and belonging among U-RISE trainees who identify as researchers in biomedical sciences; and (4) Develop and prepare U-RISE trainees to be competitive candidates for advanced biomedical degree programs. The current proposal is modeled on the successful implementation of the RISE undergraduate training program that has been funded at UTEP since 2004. In this proposal, we request to train 25 junior or senior UR undergraduates per year. The U-RISE trainees will receive enhanced mentorship and guidance from the PDs who will counsel them at important junctures and checkpoints during their undergraduate careers. The trainees will also have access to new courses and training workshops that will make them more aware of biomedical research as a career, improve their science identity, and provide them with the technical skills and knowledge needed to be competitive for biomedical graduate programs. The expected outcomes of U-RISE at UTEP are as follows: all trainees will participate in mentored research projects and extramural summer research training programs; all trainees will write a research paper suitable for publication; 80% of the trainees will graduate with a 3.5 or higher GPA; and ultimately 75% of trainees will enroll in an advanced degree program in the biomedical sciences. It is our expectation that upon achieving the proposed objectives, the U-RISE program UTEP will continue to generate a highly talented pool of UR trainees with a genuine interest in pursuing advanced biomedical degrees and future research careers.