UTA Summer Undergraduate Research Program to Promote Diversity in Health Related Research

项目摘要/总结

Project Abstract/Summary The overall goal of this R25 application is to provide unique research and education opportunities to current underrepresented minority undergraduate students at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). Specifically, we will expose these students to the disciplines of biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research with the ultimate goal of enriching diversity in individuals who will represent the future in biomedical research in topics areas related to the mission of the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. UTA is a minority majority institution that ranks among the top 5 in the nation for student ethnic diversity. As of fall 2020 UTA had a total of ~48,000 full time on-campus students, the majority of which are undergraduate students (~35,000). The undergraduate student body is comprised of 31% Hispanic, 15% African American, 13% Asian, and 5% International. In 2021 the U.S News and World Report ranked UTA fifth in the nation among institutions of higher education for ethnic diversity. Furthermore, UTA is ranked #1 in the nation for “Best for Vets: Colleges” by the “Military Times”, thus is ideally suited to accomplish the objective of increasing diversity in health-related research. We will enroll two separate cohorts of underrepresented minority students: First, our selection committee will identify 10 outstanding sophomore, junior, and senior level undergraduate students from UTA (each year) to participate in a “laboratory-based” summer research education experience. Second, our selection committee will identify up to 40 underrepresented minority sophomore, junior, and senior level undergraduate students to participate in a “classroom only” summer research education experience. Each cohort will participate in a 10-week summer research / educational program, beginning the first week of June each year. Students in the “laboratory-based” cohort will be assigned a primary faculty mentor who will supervise them in conducting fulltime research related activities Monday through Thursday. On Friday’s, both cohorts come together for a joint “classroom-based” research education experience, covering a wide range of topics related to biomedical research ranging from Professional Development to the Responsible Conduct of Research. Students will also engage with URM faculty and graduate students every Friday through a series of research seminars. The primary outcomes / metrics of success will include: 1) Returning to the program for more than one summer experience (particularly for the classroom-based cohort who will be strongly encouraged to reapply the following year for the laboratory-based experience). 2) Successful completion of an undergraduate degree in a STEM field. 3) Applying for competitive fellowships for graduate school or other advanced degrees. 4) Enrollment in an advanced degree program in a STEM field. And 5) Subsequent participation in research or employment in a STEM field.