U-RISE at Claflin University through Collaborative Interdisciplinary Mentoring in Biomedical Sciences

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7. Project Summary/Abstract Located in Orangeburg, South Carolina, Claflin University (CU), an independent, four-year, co-educational, residential, career-oriented liberal arts university, is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1869, CU is the oldest historically black college/university (HBCU) in South Carolina. Over 90% of the student body is African American and 39% are first generation college students, making CU a vital part of local, regional, and national efforts to recruit minority and female students into advanced degrees and research-oriented careers in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. Our commitment to train future scientists and engineers through hands-on, research pursuits under the direct mentorship of active science and engineering faculty has emerged as our primary pedagogic paradigm. All students in Claflin’s School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (SNSM) are required to participate in research that culminates in a senior research thesis or research proposal. The proposed Undergraduate-Research Initiative for Student Enhancement (U- RISE) targets interdisciplinary research with 18 U-RISE Trainees, recruited, selected, and retained using a holistic approach, under the supervision of 15 researchers at CU and in collaboration with biomedical researchers in research-intensive environments focusing on National Institutes of Health Training Programs over a five-year period. Projects will be conducted in various laboratories (Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics-Computer Science and Engineering) in SNSM, with selected projects integrated with community-based participatory public health research to address pertinent health disparities in collaboration with the School of Humanities and external research collaborators. Faculty mentors will complete required training activities that include topics of Diversity Training and Cultural Sensitivity. Trainees will complete required courses, Introduction to Research and Research Ethics, and participate in weekly sessions to include journal clubs, Responsible Conduct of Research, CITI modules, writing modules, and cultural sensitivity modules, Graduate Record Exam Preparation, application for internships, application for graduate school, oral and poster preparation and practice, manuscript preparation, and interview skills. Moreover, team building sessions throughout the program, from orientation to graduation, will provide a supportive environment. Students’ preparation, enthusiasm, and self-confidence will enhance career development with an increased number of underrepresented students entering and completing Ph.D. programs in biomedical-focused areas. As a result, we aim to place 33% of trainees (2 graduating trainees) into Ph.D. programs yearly after the third year, 6 at the end of 5 years, within 3 years of graduation, building upon strategic plans for recruitment, selection, and retention as well as upon implementation of efficient tracking to completion. With these plans implemented properly from lessons learned in our RISE program and from other successful programs, we anticipate a significant increase in students’ matriculating into Ph.D. and MD/Ph.D. programs because of the number entering Master’s Programs.