Engaging and Mentoring through Biomedical Research And Career Exploration (EMBRACE)

项目摘要/摘要

PROJECT SUMMARY/ ABSTRACT There is an urgent need to increase the numbers and diversity of prepared graduates joining the biomedical workforce, through reasoned, evidence-based approaches that follow scientific practices. Florida International University's Engaging and Mentoring through Biomedical Research And Career Exploration (EMBRACE) project will leverage existing evidence to increase the diversity of the biomedical research workforce through coordinated activities including, intentional career development opportunities, authentic student research experiences, and strategic faculty professional development. FIU is an urban Hispanic-serving research-intensive (R1) public institution with over 58,000 students, 80% of which are from groups that are underrepresented in biomedicine. EMBRACE centers on programming that will leverage FIU's extensive expertise in student success, diversity, equity, and inclusion and focus on programming that transforms students' access to biomedical research experiences and career awareness and preparation. EMBRACE aims to 1) support the development of essential biomedical career skills to ensure students are prepared to pursue future biomedical research paths; 2) increase student access to authentic research experiences to promote development of essential research skills; 3) provide leadership opportunities for undergraduate students, and 4) create an informed, proactive institutional community that collectively supports STEM students in biomedical career exploration and development. EMBRACE will offer a novel research and career development experience sequence to increase access to research opportunities, starting with a 1-week research exploration, continuing with increasingly immersive experiences in a Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) and follow-up novel Course- based Undergraduate Research Internship Experience (CURIE), and culminating in research leadership opportunities as undergraduate research peer mentors. Students will receive career professional development to promote essential professional skills, awareness of biomedical research career paths, and create opportunities for students to network with faculty, alumni, and scientists. The research curriculum will focus on investigating infectious diseases through the lens of bioinformatics, considering the importance to improve bioinformatics skills among the biomedical workforce and the possibility of providing access to safely conduct infectious pathogen cutting-edge research. Additionally, the project will provide faculty professional development to faculty teaching across the biology degree program to become effective mentors in their large-enrollment classrooms and provide students with guidance and strategies to support their readiness for potential biomedical careers. The integrated research and career support activities, organized longitudinally through the biology degree program, will support a diverse group of undergraduate students to pursue advanced studies and join the biomedical research workforce.