Culturally Augmented Learning In Biomedical Informatics Research (CALIBIR) Program

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PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The Culturally Augmented Learning In Biomedical Informatics Research (CALIBIR) program will address the clear need to enhance diversity within the biomedical informatics and data science field, particularly the dearth of underrepresented individuals pursuing graduate programs and careers in different areas of this field. The CALIBIR program builds on the research strengths in biomedical informatics and data science and the existing didactic training in biomedical informatics, engineering, statistics, and computer science topics at Wake Forest School of Medicine and Wake Forest University. The Program Faculty (including the Program Directors) have vast academic and professional experiences; a history of administration and collaboration on diversity-focused research and training programs; and ongoing research and funding in the five research domains proposed for CALIBIR training: Clinical Research Informatics, Artificial Intelligence, Healthcare Informatics, Imaging Informatics, and Translational Bioinformatics. Thus, we are well-positioned to offer a 10-week summer research immersion experience to train and educate undergraduate and master’s level underrepresented students and promote greater interest, exposure, and research experiences in biomedical informatics and data science. The CALIBIR program will support mentored research training activities of 60 scholars (12 students per summer). The program's overall goals are to: 1) increase underrepresented students' skills, preparation, and commitment to participate in cutting-edge biomedical informatics research; 2) offer lectures and hands-on demonstrations on state-of-the-art biomedical informatics techniques via a “Biomedical Informatics Boot Camp”; 3) provide group seminars and networking events covering responsible conduct of research, scientific dissemination, and professional development topics; 4) build trainee experience in scientific communication via a journal club, writing workshop, and an abstract and oral presentation of their research; 5) cultivate influential and long-lasting collaborative relationships between trainees and mentors to highlight the value of teamwork in research and provide an accepting and inclusive environment that will positively impact students from diverse backgrounds; and 6) encourage underrepresented students to pursue doctoral studies and careers in biomedical informatics and data science fields through an experience that exemplifies the excitement and challenges of clinically relevant investigations. The overarching goal of the CALIBIR program is to expand the pool of underrepresented students who successfully complete a graduate degree in a biomedical informatics- related field up to a PhD and increase the diversity of the biomedical informatics and data science workforce. In sum, the CALIBIR program takes advantage of unique strengths, existing infrastructure, and long-standing collaborations among diverse program faculty to ensure the successful creation and implementation of the program. It offers several innovative approaches to provide both technical and professional preparation to recruit and retain underrepresented students in the biomedical informatics and data science fields.