Implementation Project: Training of Undergraduates in Genome Engineering and Computational Data Sciences Programs at FVSU

历史悠久的黑人学院和大学-本科课程中的实施项目为设计、实施、研究和评估全面的机构努力提供支持，以通过加强科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)教育和研究来增加学生数量和提高他们的准备质量。福特谷州立大学的实施项目寻求在前两个实施项目和国家科学基金会其他奖项的成功基础上再接再厉。此外，拟议的项目将侧重于扩大在特定新兴领域的参与，利用招聘、留住非洲裔美国人和使非洲裔美国人从STEM本科生毕业的成功技术。该项目由一项正在进行的评估指导和通报。福特谷州立大学建议通过课程开发、有组织的学生参与和指导、教师发展以及URM学生接触研究和留学经验，在基因组编辑/基因组工程(GE)和计算数据科学(CDS)应用方面为本科生提供全面的学术准备和职业准备。这一综合的跨学科本科课程的目标是使用GE-CDS创建一个孵化器，让未被充分代表的少数族裔(URM)学生参与强化培训，改善批判性思维技能发展，并扩大全球研究和教育经验。此外，该项目将通过改革评估和干预，通过以证据为基础的GE-CDS课程，改变机构的教与学。该计划的主要目标是：(1)为学生的学习制定基于教育和研究技能的综合课程；(2)在GE-CDS的研究、教学和学习的学术调查中提高教师的竞争力；(3)利用校内外、国际地点和国家实验室的资源，提供密集的学生研究计划，以培养具有全球竞争力的学生；以及(4)参与研究生学校和STEM劳动力成功招生、指导和过渡的整体方法。作为一种基因组工程工具，簇状调节的间隔回文重复序列和CRISPR相关蛋白9(CRISPR/CAS9)允许我们对基因组中特定的DNA序列进行缺失、插入或修改，这导致了基因治疗，可能导致对至今仍是人类谜团的遗传疾病的治疗。计算数据科学和基因组编辑的交叉将促进我们在数据分析方面的知识，这将是未来医疗领域进步的核心。拟议的模式涉及GE-CDS的课程发展，以及全年干预措施，包括与扩大少数族裔学生参与STEM的研究结果保持良好一致的海外留学部分。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Implementation Projects in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities - Undergraduate Program provide support to design, implement, study and assess comprehensive institutional efforts to increase the numbers of students and the quality of their preparation by strengthening science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and research. The Implementation project at Fort Valley State University seeks to build on the successes of the former two Implementation projects and other awards from the National Science Foundation. Furthermore, the proposed project will focus its efforts on broadening participation in specified emerging areas, using successful techniques in recruiting, retaining and graduating African-American undergraduates in STEM. The project is guided and informed by an on-going evaluation. Fort Valley State University is proposing a holistic undergraduate academic preparedness and career readiness in Genome Editing/Genome Engineering (GE) and Computational Data Science (CDS) applications through curricular development, structured student engagement and mentoring, faculty development, and URM student exposure to research and study abroad experiences. The goal of this integrated, interdisciplinary undergraduate program is to use GE-CDS to create an incubator for engaging underrepresented minority (URM) students in intensive training, to improve critical-thinking skills development, and expand global research and education experiences. Further, this project will transform institutional teaching and learning through evidence-based GE-CDS courses via reform assessment and intervention. The primary objectives of this program are: (1) to develop an integrated education and research skills-based curriculum alignment with technology for student learning; (2) to increase faculty competitiveness in scholarly inquiries in research, teaching, and learning in GE-CDS; (3) to provide an intense student research program utilizing resources on- and off-campus, at international sites, and in national laboratories to prepare globally competitive students; and (4) To engage in the holistic approach of student recruitment, mentoring, and transition to success in graduate schools and the STEM workforce. A Genome Engineering tool, Clustered Regulated Interspaced Palindromic Repeats, and CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/ Cas 9) allows us to perform the deletion, insertion, or modification of specific DNA sequences in the genome, which lead to gene therapy that could potentially result in treatment for genetic disorders that remain an enigma for mankind until today. The intersection of Computational Data Science and Genome Editing will advance our knowledge in data analytics, which is going to be at the core of future advances in the medical field. The proposed model involves curricular development in GE-CDS, and year-round interventions, including a study abroad component that are well aligned with research findings on broadening participation of minority students in STEM.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.