The Fisk-Meharry-Vanderbilt Biomedical Informatics Ecosystem to Support Diverse Students in Data Science

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Project Summary (Abstract) Fisk University, Meharry Medical College, and Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) propose a novel collaborative program to engage diverse undergraduate and graduate students in meaningful biomedical informatics and biomedical data science summer research experiences. The Biomedical Informatics Ecosystem to Support Talented Diverse Students in Data Science (BEST-DS2) program builds on a strong foundation of collaboration among three postsecondary institutions in Nashville and connects three strong data science programs: Fisk’s computer and data science program, Meharry’s School of Applied Computational Sciences, and Vanderbilt’s Biomedical Informatics program. The BEST-DS2 specific aims are to: (1) establish meaningful high-quality short-term research experiences for talented diverse students; (2) prepare these students for future educational and career opportunities in biomedical informatics and biomedical data science; (3) provide a rigorous evaluation of the program; and (4) build a regional and sustainable ecosystem in biomedical informatics and biomedical data science. Both Fisk and Meharry are Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with a high proportion of students from groups under-represented in biomedical informatics and biomedical data science; VUMC provides substantial expertise in successful summer research experiences through the Vanderbilt Biomedical Informatics Summer Program. Each summer, three undergraduate students from Fisk and three graduate students from Meharry will join the 12-week BEST-DS2 program, for a total of 30 students over the five years of the award. At the beginning of the summer program, a two-week bootcamp led by Fisk, Meharry, and VUMC faculty will cover common methods and tools used in biomedical informatics and biomedical data science. Students will receive instruction on Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) and engage in professional development activities (including some based upon the Entering Research curriculum from the Center for Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research). Students will also participate in a Biomedical Informatics Summer Seminar Series to explore cutting-edge topics, career pathways, and training opportunities. This five-year program will also reach an additional 50 students from HBCUs as part of online BEST-DS2 outreach activities. In addition to preparing diverse students for their future in biomedical informatics and biomedical data science, the BEST-DS2 program will enable Fisk, Meharry, and VUMC to develop a sustainable biomedical informatics and biomedical data science ecosystem, which will support educational and research collaboration among trainees and faculty at the three institutions.