VT Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity

描述(由申请者提供)：我们提出了一个最大化学生多样性的跨学科倡议(IMSD)计划，该计划利用弗吉尼亚理工大学在工程和生命科学方面的卓越历史来培养生物医学科学方面的博士生。除了提供一个将吸引和帮助留住生物医学科学和工程领域中代表性不足的学生的结构外，该计划还将进一步加强弗吉尼亚理工大学(VT)成功的NSF和美国农业部博士培训项目。VT-IMSD将专注于招募和培训VT擅长的五个核心研究项目的学者，包括：(1)遗传学、生物信息学和计算生物学，(2)生物医学工程，(3)心理科学，(4)分子和细胞生物学。该项目将为优秀的本科生和研究生提供研究经验。除了参与完成学位要求的项目外，本科生和研究生都将参加科学和丰富活动，包括每周一次的IMSD论坛、每周一次的项目领域研讨会、每月一次的多元文化集会和一次年度研究研讨会。所有博士生将被要求参加核心课程，包括研讨会，有效的助学金写作，研究中的统计学，生物化学原理，生命科学计算，以及为教授做准备。 IMSD的这一跨学科计划将建立在弗吉尼亚大学成功的少数族裔招生、充实、留住和毕业计划的基础上，包括：初中生校园访问计划，美国原住民大学预科计划，高中高年级学生/父母访问计划，为科学和工程专业本科生提供的12年暑期研究经历计划，NSF资助的少数族裔参与联盟计划，教育部资助的McNair学者计划，美国农业部资助的本科生多元文化学者计划，以及NIH-NIGMS资助的预科计划。例如，作为基准，从1995年到2003年，多元文化学术机会方案(MAOP)通过农业和生命科学以及人类发展和营养专业的研究生助学金资助了大约65名学生，留校率和毕业率超过80%。MAOP和其他计划构成了成功招收优秀学生的基础，这些学生将被选为IMSD本科生和研究生学者。拟议的IMSD计划的具体目标包括：(1)每年招募5名VT-IMSD博士和10名本科生学者，在杰出的VT研究人员和获奖教育工作者的实验室进行培训/教育；(2)开发活动和计划，以丰富和激励学生留在学校，并继续专注于在行为、兽医、生物医学科学和工程领域追求研究事业；3)在符合弗吉尼亚理工大学“社区原则”的多样化学生群体的五个核心学科中创造关键群体。 弗吉尼亚大学最近的发展使实现这些目标变得更容易，该校承诺，通过“社区原则”，大学行政部门、部门领导和来访者委员会将全力以赴，为所有学生，特别是少数族裔学生创造一个友好的环境。本着这一原则，弗吉尼亚州政府承诺为IMSD项目提供超过350,000美元的直接支持，其中包括额外4名博士学者的学费和津贴。还认捐了大约120 000美元的其他支助，用于征聘活动和管理信息系统论坛，以支持演讲者、论坛餐饮和年度务虚会。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We propose an interdisciplinary Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity (IMSD) program that takes advantage of Virginia Tech's history of excellence in engineering and the life sciences to train doctoral students in the biomedical sciences. In addition to providing a structure that will attract and help retain students underrepresented in the biomedical sciences and engineering, the initiative will further strengthen Virginia Tech's (VT) pipeline of successful NSF and USDA doctoral training programs. The VT-IMSD will focus on recruiting and training scholars in five core research programs in which VT has excelled, including: (1) Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology, (2) Biomedical Engineering, (3) Psychological Sciences, and (4) Molecular and Cellular Biology. The program will provide a research experience for outstanding undergraduate and graduate students. In addition to engaging in programs in fulfillment of their degree requirements, both the undergraduate and graduate students will participate in scientific and enrichment activities that include a weekly IMSD forum, a weekly program area seminar, a monthly multicultural assembly, and an annual research symposium. All the doctoral students will be required to take core classes that include Seminar, Effective Grant Writing, Statistics in Research, Principles of Biochemistry, Computation for the Life Sciences, and Preparing for the Professorate. This IMSD interdisciplinary program will build on successful minority recruitment, enrichment, retention and graduation programs at VT including: middle and high school student campus visitation programs, a pre-college initiative for Native Americans, a high school senior/parents visitation program, a 12-year-old Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates in the Sciences and Engineering, an NSF-funded Alliance for Minority Participation program, a Department of Education-funded McNair Scholars program, a USDA-funded Multicultural Scholars' program for undergraduates, and an NIH-NIGMS-funded PREP program. As a baseline, for example, the Multicultural Academic Opportunities Program (MAOP) supported about 65 students through graduate assistantships in the Agriculture and Life Sciences and Human Development and Nutrition from 1995 through 2003 with a retention and graduation rate in excess of 80%. The MAOP and other programs form the foundation for the successful recruitment of outstanding students who will be selected as IMSD undergraduate and graduate scholars. Specific objectives of the proposed IMSD program include: (1) Recruit 5 VT-IMSD Ph.D. and 10 undergraduate scholars annually for training/education in the labs of outstanding VT researchers and award-winning educators; (2) Develop activities and programs that will enrich and motivate students to stay in school and to stay focused on the pursuit of research careers in the behavioral, veterinary and biomedical sciences and engineering; 3) Create a critical mass in the five core disciplines of a diverse student body that is consistent with the Virginia Tech "Principles of Community." Achieving these aims is made easier by recent developments at VT that pledge, through the "Principles of Community," a total commitment of the University administration, departmental leaders, and Board of Visitors to create a welcoming environment for all students, especially minorities. Consistent with this principle, the VT administration has pledged over $350,000 in direct support for IMSD program that includes tuition and stipend for 4 additional doctoral scholars. Other support, of approximately $120,000, has also been pledged for the recruitment activities and the IMSD forums to support speakers, meals at the forums, and the annual retreats.