Catalyst Project: Infusing Collaborations in Forensics for Conceptualizing Student Innovation at Alabama State University (CSI-ASU)

催化剂项目为历史上的黑人学院和大学提供支持，努力建立教师的研究能力，以加强科学，技术，工程和数学本科教育和研究。预计该奖项将进一步提高教师的研究能力，改善研究和教学机构，并参与研究经验的本科生。亚拉巴马州立大学（ASU）的这个项目将加强该机构的法医研究基础设施，预计将导致学生的保留率增加。这项工作将培养学生解决问题的能力，并提供STEM研究机会。一个预期的结果是培养代表性不足的群体的成功，以促进他们纳入STEM管道。没有先前的研究经验的学生最初将在亚利桑那州立大学接受培训。他们将学习各种实验室技能，如从尸体组织中提取DNA，聚合酶链反应（PCR），琼脂糖凝胶电泳和其他可转移的研究技能。然后，学生将有资格参加为期5天的培训课程在合作机构，如佛罗里达国际大学的国际法医研究所在迈阿密。从伙伴机构中挑选了具有最先进技术能力的研究导师，这些技术包括利用犯罪现场收集的人体标本和证据进行化学、遗传和物理法医分析。 该项目还将通过实施新生保留计划（FRP），整合新的网络学习模块和增加新的法医课程来加强介绍性法医基础设施。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Catalyst Projects provide support for Historically Black Colleges and Universities to work towards establishing research capacity of faculty to strengthen science, technology, engineering and mathematics undergraduate education and research. It is expected that the award will further the faculty member's research capability, improve research and teaching at the institution and involve undergraduate students in research experiences. This project at Alabama State University (ASU) will enhance the Forensics Research Infrastructure at the institution and is anticipated to lead to increased retention of students. The work will develop students' problem-solving skills and provide STEM research opportunities. An expected outcome is nurturing the success of underrepresented groups to promote their inclusion in STEM pipelines. Students without prior research experience will initially be trained at ASU. They will learn a variety of laboratory skills such as DNA extraction from cadaver tissues, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), agarose gel electrophoresis, and other transferable research skills. Students will then be eligible to participate in a 5-day training session at a partner institution, such as Florida International University's International Forensic Research Institute in Miami. Research mentors with competencies in state-of-the-art techniques have been selected from partner institutions, these techniques include chemical, genetic, and physical forensic analyses using human specimens and evidence collected at crime scene. This project will also enhance introductory forensic infrastructure by implementing a Freshman Retention Program (FRP), integrating new cyberlearning modules, and adding new forensic courses.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.