Mentoring For Success: Teaching Faculty Fundamental Skills For Attracting, Admitting and Developing Students

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The University at Buffalo (UB) continues to work towards increasing the number of PhD students from underrepresented groups in biomedical and behavioral sciences. The IMSD at UB plays an essential role in attracting and supporting students through collaborative learning and integrated mentoring. Since 2012, a total of 39 students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds (46% AA, 44% H/L, 5% NA; 5% Multiple Races; 44% W) enrolled and participated in IMSD professional development activities. To date, 11 graduated and 21 are in training, with a mean time to graduation of 5.3 years (median: 4.8 years). The graduation rate moved from 73% during the initial funding period to an estimated 94% in the current funding period. The IMSD at UB is building upon this success, together with faculty from 18 departments spanning seven UB Schools and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, to continue the transformation of UB into a leading institution for training a diverse workforce. Specific aims are: 1) Attract five PhD students underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral sciences at UB per year increasing diversity by a total of 25 during the 5-year funding period, by using targeted recruiting and holistic review. 2) Provide mentoring, professional development and grant writing training to achieve academic success, secure funding and ensure successful completion of PhD degrees. The program will guide students through their PhD training using Individualized Development Plans to tailor research activities, professional development, mentoring and faculty support. 3) Facilitate access to careers in science and leadership positions to foster successful transition into competitive postdoctoral positions and jobs in academia, industry, government, or other organizations. To foster growth of professional networks, the program developed the Career Pathways Seminar to allow IMSD students to meet and establish relationships with leaders in these institutions where they will potentially complete a research internship to explore future career paths. 4) Create a safe, diverse, and inclusive research learning environment adaptive to students’ academic and professional needs. This aim will focus on increasing faculty recruitment and retention efforts. Using established partnerships with the Office of the UB Vice Provost for Inclusive Excellence, Unit Diversity Officers, and UB senior administration, the program will expand activities dedicated to holistic review of applications by graduate program directors, admissions committees, administrators, and faculty search committees and developing faculty mentoring skills to recruit and retain a student-focused, diverse faculty population at UB. The success of the IMSD at UB will be realized by a) increasing diversity of applicant pools for graduate students and faculty, b) students’ scientific productivity and entry into the workforce, c) improved student and faculty mentoring and support, and d) building a more inclusive learning environment at UB.