MARC U-STAR Training Program at St. Augustine's College

描述(由申请者提供)：拟议培训计划的目标是增加圣奥古斯丁学院毕业、准备、申请和被录取、录取并成功获得生物医学学科研究型博士学位的学生数量。该计划将补充其他具有类似目标的活动，但与其他活动不同，它将主要针对高年级学生。MARC U-STAR计划将实施经过研究验证的活动，这些活动旨在：在5年内将SMC学生的数量增加一倍；在5年内使每个SMC学科的2002年度优等生数量增加一倍；修改SMC课程，以便更好地为学生进行研究生学习做准备；向所有SMC学生提供关于生物医学职业及其教育要求的信息，不迟于大三开始；为所有初级和高级荣誉学生提供涵盖研究技能和负责任的研究进行的课程；并以研究生研讨会的形式，提供接触杰出科学家和他们的工作的机会；为所有目前没有参与研究的SMC全职教员提供培训，使他们能够(A)将研究纳入其高级SMC课程，并(B)开发和实施研究计划，这些计划也将扩大学生研究的机会；每年为初级和高级MARC U-STAR学员提供本科生研究经验、学费和津贴；以及使MARC U-STAR学员适应研究生院的社会、学术和专业需求和环境。每项活动都与可衡量的目标和基线数据相关联，将雇用一名独立评估员进行形成性和总结性评估。由于学院用于本科生研究的机会和设备有限，因此在学院发展自己的研究能力的同时，已经形成了一个“外部P受体”网络，以监督学生的研究工作。为此，要求提供少量实验室设备以及修订课程和开展一些受限制的下级司发展活动所需的资金。首席调查员将是生物系主任马克·A·梅尔顿博士。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of the proposed training program is to increase the number of St. Augustine's College students who graduate, are prepared for, apply to, and are accepted, matriculate and succeed in graduate studies leading to research doctorates in the biomedical disciplines. The program will complement other activities with similar goals, however it, unlike the others, will primarily focus on upper division students. The MARC U-STAR program will implement activities validated by research that are designed to: double the number of SMC students within 5 years; double the number of AY 2002 Honors students in each SMC discipline within five years; revise SMC curricula so as to better prepare students for graduate studies; provide all SMC students with information about biomedical careers and their educational requirements beginning no later than the beginning of the junior year; provide all junior and senior Honors students with courses that cover research skills and the responsible conduct of research; and, in a graduate seminar format, provide exposure to eminent scientists and their work; provide all full-time SMC faculty members who are not currently involved in research with training that will allow them to (a) incorporate research in their upper division SMC courses and (b) develop and implement research programs that also will expand opportunities for student research; provide undergraduate research experiences, tuitions and stipends for junior and senior level MARC U-STAR trainees yearly; and acclimatize MARC U-STAR trainees to the social, academic and professional demands and environments of graduate institutions. Each activity is associated with measurable goals and baseline data and an independent evaluator will be employed to conduct formative and summative assessments. Because the College has limited opportunities and equipment for undergraduate research, a network of 'External Preceptors' has been formed, to oversee students' research work as the College develops its own research capabilities. To that end, a small amount of laboratory equipment has been requested as well as funds for curriculum revision and some circumscribed lower division development activities. The Principal Investigator will be Dr. Mark A. Melton, Head of the Biology Department.