Summer Physiology Undergraduate Researcher (SPUR) Program

夏季生理学本科生研究员（SPUR）计划-德克萨斯大学健康学院圣安东尼奥分校（UTHSA）的细胞与综合生理学系二十多年来一直在招募包括代表性不足的少数族裔（URM）在内的本科生申请我们的夏季生理学本科生研究员（SPUR）计划。通过实验室的研究经验，SPUR学生学习应用尖端的研究技术，发展科学的沟通技巧，并了解负责任的研究行为。这些属性建立本科生的熟练程度和研究的信心。尽管对追求生物医学科学事业的兴趣越来越大，但URM和贫困学生完成学士学位和/或成为生物医学研究人员的可能性只有非URM的一半。根据拟议的R25 SPUR计划，进入大三和大四的URM科学本科生将在全国范围内积极招募，并通过与圣安东尼奥五个少数民族和西班牙裔服务机构的合作伙伴关系，通过当地教师导师的推荐。我们的合作伙伴机构（圣玛丽玛丽大学、Trinity大学、道成肉身大学、圣安东尼奥的德克萨斯A&M大学和湖圣母大学）不提供生物医学神经科学的研究生培训课程;但有不同的学生群体反映了种族（64%西班牙裔，7%黑人，3%亚洲人，1%美洲原住民）和圣安东尼奥的社会经济多样性，50-70%是第一代本科生。虽然这些地方机构有很高比例的URM科学专业，很少有人追求生物医学研究的职业生涯，在URM学生进入科学研究队伍的管道中创造了差距。我们的R25计划的主要目标是通过提供研究经验和指导来填补这一空白，以鼓励更多的URM本科生利用SPUR机会作为生物医学科学职业生涯的启动平台。R25 SPUR学生将参加实验室研究，每周40小时，为期10周。此外，学生将有关于神经科学和神经系统疾病的基础讲座，接受负责任的研究行为的培训，并了解科学通信。SPUR计划的导师将参加一个导师培训研讨会，重点是对URM成功障碍的认识，有效指导的技巧，以及提高导师培养来自不同背景的学生的能力。在为期10周的课程结束时，学生将撰写一份最终报告，并在部门研讨会上展示他们的发现。将对R25 SPUR计划进行评估并收集反馈，以改进该计划，确保其持续成功。因此，我们通过这个夏季计划的努力将有助于建立一个多样化的生物医学研究队伍，NINDS R25计划的核心使命。

SUMMER PHYSIOLOGY UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER (SPUR) PROGRAM - The Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology at the University of Texas Health San Antonio (UTHSA) has recruited undergraduates including underrepresented minorities (URMs) to apply to our Summer Physiology Undergraduate Researcher (SPUR) Program for over two decades. Through laboratory research experience, SPUR students learn to apply cutting-edge research techniques, develop scientific communication skills and learn about responsible conduct of research. These attributes build undergraduate proficiency and confidence in research. Despite increased interest in pursuing careers in biomedical sciences, URM and underprivileged students are only half as likely as non-URMs to complete Bachelors degrees and/or to become part of the biomedical research workforce. Under the proposed R25 SPUR Program, URM science undergraduates entering their junior and senior years will be actively recruited nationally and through partnerships with five minority and Hispanic-serving Institutions in San Antonio via referrals from local faculty mentors. Our partner Institutions (St. Mary's University, Trinity University, University of the Incarnate Word, Texas A&M University at San Antonio and Our Lady of the Lake University) do not offer graduate training programs in biomedical neurosciences; but have diverse student populations reflecting the ethnic (64% Hispanic, 7% Black, 3% Asian, 1% Native American) and socioeconomic diversity of San Antonio, with 50-70% being first generation undergraduates. Although these local Institutions have high percentages of URM science majors, very few pursue careers in biomedical research creating a gap in the pipeline of URM-students entering the scientific research workforce. The main objective of our R25 Program is to fill this gap by providing research experience and mentoring to encourage more URM undergraduates to use the SPUR opportunity as a launching platform for careers in biomedical sciences. R25 SPUR students will participate in laboratory research for 40 hours/week for 10 weeks. In addition, students will have lectures on fundamentals of neuroscience and neurological disorders, receive training in responsible conduct of research and learn about scientific communications. SPUR Program mentors will participate in a mentor-training workshop focused on awareness of URM barriers to success, techniques for effective mentoring and enhancing mentors’ abilities to nurture students from diverse backgrounds. At the end of the 10-week Program, students will write a final report and present their findings at a Departmental symposium. The R25 SPUR Program will be evaluated and feedback collected to make improvements in the Program, ensuring its continued success. Thus, our efforts through this summer Program will contribute to building a diverse biomedical research workforce, a core mission of the NINDS R25 Program.