YEARS 19 - 23: BCM POST-BACCALAUREATE RESEARCH EDUCATION PROGRAM

总结

Summary The goal of the Baylor College of Medicine Post-baccalaureate Research Education Program (BCM-PREP) is to mentor post-baccalaureates (Scholars) who are underrepresented (UR) in science and medicine to be competitive to enter into and be successful in a research-intensive biomedical Ph.D. program. BCM has a long history of mentoring UR trainees at the undergraduate (Summer Medical Research Training, SMART, since 1988), post-baccalaureates (BCM-PREP since 2003), and graduate (Initiative for Maximizing Student Development, since 1998). The BCM-PREP has trained 106 Scholars since initial funding and alumni have excellent records of achievement and productivity equivalent to non-UR trainees at BCM, positioning them for leadership roles in the biomedical research community. Ninety-five percent (95%) of alumni are involved in academia or jobs in science-related fields, contributing to the diversity of the US scientific workforce. These results far exceed our goals of having 75% of alumni enrolling in a Ph.D. program in top ranked research-intensive institutions and that at least 80% of alumni enroll and complete a Ph.D. This BCM- PREP renewal requests an extra slot annually to train forty Scholars (8/year) over the next five years. We propose to continue recruiting, mentoring, training, and advancing UR education in biomedical research by supporting Scholars to work at state-of-the-art research laboratories and core facilities at BCM. The curriculum and training include mentored, original research in a laboratory, science writing and oral presentation skills, analysis of the scientific and medical literature, critical thinking and evaluation, responsible conduct of research, and the principles of scientific rigor and reproducibility. Scholars will develop an individual development plan (IDP) and learn how to maintain a continuous review of the IDP for career and personal success. Each Scholar will be provided with academic experiences in review of foundational knowledge in molecular and cellular biology. We will enhance UR Scholar research success with writing workshops and scientific conference participation and mentoring for fellowship writing and grantsmanship. We will use innovative educational experiences and practices to support development and career management and success of our UR Scholars by mentee and mentor workshops based on the National Mentoring Research Network and by developing teamwork skills through team-based science training developed at BCM. These activities will advance the UR post-baccalaureates to be successful in research-intensive PhD programs and to diversify the biomedical workforce by focusing their minds on innovative approaches and experiences to build knowledge to decrease morbidity, mortality and improve the health of our diverse national population.