MBRS IMSD Program at the University of Kansas

描述(由申请人提供)：在堪萨斯大学(KU)IMSD项目开始的短短三年内，将有12名少数族裔学生申请研究生院，其中包括6名美国印第安人。这是一项延续建议，使我们能够在这些成功的基础上再接再厉。KU IMSD与NIH资助的其他项目(Bridge、Rise、IRACDA)合作，并充分利用研究所(KU)和最大的部落学院之一(哈斯克尔印第安人民族大学)的并置。KU IMSD包括四个部分：1)为美国印第安人和其他少数民族学生提供研究经验，特别是招收来自Bridge或Rise项目的Haskell学生；2)加强和修改课程；3)提供跨学科研讨会系列；4)提供经济援助和指导。本科生的研究体验采取了广泛的跨学科方法，将学生安排到77个可能的KU实验室之一，并包括让学生有机会在当地和全国会议上分享他们的研究成果。该计划还将支持几名从哈斯克尔获得学士学位的美国印第安人研究生。在过去三年取得显著成效的课程改善措施，将会继续为生物、化学和数学的把关课程提供资助。仅在生物学方面，在过去六年里，完成生物入门课程的美国印第安人学生的平均绩点从0.86上升到2.94。综合研讨会系列将汇集国际管理学院、桥梁和RISE项目的学生，以促进社区和学习。KU IMSD对本科生研究人员的支持将是提供经济支持的基石，KU将为美国印度学生提供KU奖学金。导师将由教员(研究顾问)、IMSD项目协调员(个人和小组会议)和同行(其他IMSD学生)提供。评价和跟踪程序将允许在方案过程中定期调整活动，并评估是否实现了目标。如果再资助四年，KU/Haskell的合作将有机会显著影响美国印第安人科学家的数量。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Within the three short years since the University of Kansas (KU) IMSD program began, twelve minority students, including six American Indians, will have applied to graduate school. This is a continuation proposal to allow us to build on these successes. KU IMSD works in concert with other NIH funded programs (Bridge, RISE, IRACDA) and takes full advantage of the juxtaposition of a Research I Institution (KU) and one of the largest tribal colleges (Haskell Indian Nations University). KU IMSD consists of four components: 1) providing research experiences to American Indian and other minority students, with a particular a focus on recruiting Haskell students from the Bridge or RISE program; 2) enhancing and modifying the curriculum; 3) offering an interdisciplinary seminar series and 4) providing financial aid and mentoring. The undergraduate research experience takes a broad, interdisciplinary approach to placing students into one of 77 possible KU labs and includes opportunities for students to share their research results at local and national meetings. The program will also support several American Indian graduate students who have obtained BA's from Haskell. IMSD supported curricular enhancements that have shown remarkable results over the past three years will be continued for gatekeeper courses in biology, chemistry and math. In biology alone, the average grade point average of American Indian students who completed the introductory biology course has increased from 0.86 to 2.94 over the past six years. An integrative seminar series will bring together students from the IMSD, Bridge, and RISE programs to foster community and learning. Support from KU IMSD for undergraduate researchers will be a cornerstone in providing financial support along with KU scholarships targeted for American Indian students. Mentoring will be provided from faculty (research advisors), the IMSD Program Coordinator (individual and group meetings) and peers (other IMSD students). Evaluation and tracking procedures will allow for regular adjustment of activities during the course of the program and assessment of whether goals have been met. If funded for another four years, the KU/Haskell collaboration provides the opportunity to significantly impact the number of American Indian scientists in this country.