A Comprehensive Assessment of the Barriers, Needs, and Challenges Facing Underrepresented Minority Faculty in Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology Aug 12-14, Wash, DC

美国生物化学和分子生物学学会的少数民族事务委员会将进行全面评估，以确定阻碍少数民族教师和少数民族服务机构的教师在获得联邦研究资金方面取得成功的挑战和障碍。这项倡议与学会现有的使命相一致，即增加少数民族在分子生命科学学科中的代表性、参与度、可见度和贡献，并将扩大这方面努力的影响。将对171名曾经接受过NSF资助的少数族裔教师进行需求分析，以确定限制他们续期或重新提交成功率的现有障碍。该分析将确定限制续订或重新提交评级的现有障碍。评估将分三个阶段进行，其中一部分将是在线调查，这将有助于规划和组织焦点小组。焦点小组将允许识别和检查阻碍URM教师和少数民族服务机构的教师成功更新和/或重新提交NSF资助提案的已知障碍。在最后阶段，将制定一份包含挑战和行动要点的文件草案，这些挑战和行动要点将最终提高少数民族教师的研究成功。这一努力的最终目标是增加多样化教师队伍的成功。更广泛的影响由于目标是提高代表性不足的群体和少数民族服务机构的教师的代表性和成功，这一举措的更广泛的影响是内在的。这次会议将允许来自不同类型机构和研究领域的生命科学教师建立网络并发展合作，同时努力实现解决资金成功障碍的更广泛目标。总结本次会议成果的白皮书将分发给各专业协会，提出应对所确定挑战的国家行动呼吁。除了白皮书外，这次综合评估的结果将提交给各种论坛发表，包括今天的ASBMB、生物化学杂志和生物化学与分子生物学教育杂志。提议举行全体会议，发言者和与会者将反映最初的调查答复者群体。此外，这一倡议可以作为对评估少数族裔科学家需求感兴趣的其他学科的有用模板。

Intellectual Merit The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology's Minority Affairs Committee will conduct a comprehensive assessment to identify the challenges and impediments that hamper the success of minority faculty and faculty conducting research at minority serving institutions in securing federal research funding. This initiative aligns with the Society's existing mission to increase the representation, participation, visibility, and contributions of minorities to molecular life science disciplines and will expand the impact of efforts in this regard. A needs analysis within a cohort of 171 minority faculty who previously received NSF funding to identify existing barriers that limit their renewal or resubmission success rates will be conducted. This analysis will identify existing barriers that limit renewal or resubmission rated. Assessment will be conducted in three stages, part of which will be an online survey that will facilitate the planning and organization a focus group. The focus group will allow identification and examination of the perceived barriers precluding URM faculty and faculty at minority serving institutions from successfully renewing and/or resubmitting proposals for NSF funding. In the final phase, a draft document containing the challenges and points of action that will ultimately enhance the research success of minority faculty, will be developed. The ultimate objective of this effort is to increase the success of a diverse pool of faculty. Broader ImpactSince the goal is to enhance the representation and success of faculty from underrepresented groups and those from minority serving institutions, the broader impacts of this initiative is intrinsic. The meeting will allow life science faculty from various types of institutions and research fields to network and develop collaborations, all while working to achieve the broader goal of addressing funding success barriers. White papers summarizing the outcomes of this meeting will be disseminated to professional societies presenting a national call to action that addresses the challenges identified. In addition to the white papers, the results of this comprehensive assessment will be submitted for publication in various fora including ASBMB today The Journal of Biological Chemistry, and the Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education. Plenary sessions are proposed and the speakers and participants will mirror the initial cohort of survey respondents. Additionally, this initiative may serve as a useful template for other disciplines interested in assessing the needs of minority scientists.