Summer Physiology Undergraduate Researcher (SPUR) Program

夏季生理学本科生研究员（SPUR）计划-德克萨斯大学健康圣安东尼奥分校（UTHSA）的细胞和综合生理学系已经招募了本科生，包括代表性不足的少数民族（urm），申请我们的夏季生理学本科生研究员（SPUR）计划已有二十多年的历史。通过实验室研究经验，马刺学生学会应用尖端的研究技术，发展科学沟通技巧，并学习负责任的研究行为。这些特质造就了大学生对研究的熟练程度和信心。尽管人们对从事生物医学科学的职业越来越感兴趣，但URM和贫困家庭的学生完成学士学位和/或成为生物医学研究队伍的一部分的可能性只有非URM的一半。根据拟议的R25 SPUR计划，URM将在全国范围内积极招募进入大三和大四的理科本科生，并通过当地教师导师的推荐，与圣安东尼奥的五个少数民族和西班牙裔服务机构合作。我们的合作机构（圣玛丽大学、三一大学、道成肉身大学、圣安东尼奥德州农工大学和圣母湖大学）不提供生物医学神经科学的研究生培训项目；但学生群体多样化，反映了圣安东尼奥的种族（64%的西班牙裔，7%的黑人，3%的亚裔，1%的印第安人）和社会经济多样性，其中50-70%是第一代本科生。虽然这些地方院校的医科大学理科专业学生比例很高，但很少有人从事生物医学研究，这使得医科大学学生进入科研队伍的渠道出现了缺口。我们的R25项目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事业的启动平台。R25 SPUR学生将参加实验室研究，每周40小时，为期10周。此外，学生还将学习神经科学和神经系统疾病的基础知识，接受负责任的研究行为培训，并学习科学交流。SPUR项目的导师将参加一个导师培训研讨会，重点是了解URM成功的障碍，有效指导的技巧，以及提高导师培养不同背景学生的能力。在为期10周的课程结束时，学生将写一份最终报告，并在部门研讨会上展示他们的发现。将对R25 SPUR项目进行评估并收集反馈，以改进该项目，确保其持续成功。因此，我们通过这个暑期项目的努力将有助于建立一支多样化的生物医学研究队伍，这是NINDS R25项目的核心使命。

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.