South Carolina - Advancing Diversity in Aging Research Undergraduate Program

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Abstract The University of South Carolina (UofSC) proposes to establish a South Carolina-Advancing Diversity in Aging Research (SC-ADAR) undergraduate program to increase the number of qualified under-represented minority (URM) students who pursue scientific graduate studies in programs focusing on MSTEM (medicine, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) disciplines and aging. In the proposed renewal application, as we have in the first period of program funding, we will continue to partner with five Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in South Carolina (SC), where low-income, African American undergraduate students might, through exposure to a research education program focusing on aging research, choose to enter scientific careers committed to addressing the complex biological, biomedical, behavioral, and clinical challenges that accompany aging. The proposed R25 represents a continuing effort to use an evidence-based approach to incorporate innovative strategies into an MSTEM and aging research-education program. Specific program aims include: 1) recruiting 40 ethnic minority undergraduates majoring in STEM fields from five SC HBCUs; 2) Implementing a summer training program, as part of a comprehensive 24- month SC-ADAR research education approach, over two consecutive summers at UofSC, which includes multiple components (i.e., supervised research experience in a laboratory, coursework to increase knowledge of aging-related topics, basic academic skill development through workshops, mentorship to develop work-life management skills to enhance integration into the academic culture and community, and reflective social experiences to enhance interest in MSTEM and aging research); 3) Implementing a co-mentoring mechanism, in which HBCU faculty participate in student mentoring during the 24-months of SC-ADAR participation; 4) Implementing a transitioning program to assist HBCU students in the transition from undergraduate to graduate/professional schools; and 5) Conducting a process evaluation to allow for iterative changes in the program dependent on newly emerging needs, and an outcome evaluation to assess success of the program in meeting students’ short term, intermediate, and longer term objectives. The likelihood of success is enhanced by strong institutional support from UofSC, UofSC’s existing infrastructure for advancing diversity in MSTEM, and through the experience of the PI (Dr. Sue Levkoff) and extensive faculty resources, with their backgrounds in research training in aging and the STEM fields.