MARC U*STAR at the University of California, Irvine

描述(由申请人提供)：加州大学欧文分校(UCI)是一家研究机构，其生物科学学院的少数族裔科学项目(MSP)获得了国家认可。UCI的Marc U*STAR旨在增加进入生物医学科学研究型博士学位并取得优异成绩的荣誉代表少数族裔(URM)本科生的数量。主要计划内容包括：1)MARC前学生发展活动，旨在向参与者介绍生物医学研究，增加学生留存率，提高URM一、二年级学生的学术准备和对生物医学研究的兴趣，并识别和准备学生作为MARC实习生；2)MARC部分，通过加强他们的学术准备、动机和研究培训，支持大三和大四学生增加接受过竞争性培训的URM攻读研究型博士学位的人数。在教师导师的指导下进行的独立研究是促使MARC学者追求研究生院和专注于研究的职业的核心因素。100多名具有培训URM本科生经验和资助研究项目的教职员工担任MARC学者的导师。MARC研究培训内容与本科课程相结合，包括：1)个人职业和学术建议，2)研究人员研讨会系列，3)期刊俱乐部，向学者介绍当前生物医学文献的批判性阅读，4)关于生物医学研究中使用的原理、仪器和技术的研讨会，5)由教师导师指导的独立研究，6)准备在地方和国家会议上发表口头报告和海报，7)研究生院的科学交流和应用研讨会，8)研究生院申请过程中每周的个人建议，以及9)完全可以进入专门为该项目设计的计算机实验室。 公共卫生相关性：对有才华的少数族裔本科生进行学术准备和研究培训至关重要，以确保拥有一支多样化和训练有素的劳动力队伍，在国家的生物医学和行为研究事业中担任领导角色，以满足改善美国人民健康的需求。该项目将提高学术质量，增加来自代表性不足群体的本科生数量，使其成为下一代生物医学研究科学家。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The University of California, Irvine (UCI) is a research institution that has gained national recognition for its Minority Science Programs (MSP) at the School of Biological Sciences. The MARC U*STAR at UCI aims at increasing the number of honors underrepresented minority (URM) undergraduates that enter and excel in research doctorates in biomedical sciences. Major program components include, 1) pre-MARC student development activities designed to introduce participants to biomedical research, increase student retention, improve the academic preparedness and interest in biomedical research of URM freshmen and sophomores, and to identify and prepare students for appointment as MARC trainees and 2) a MARC component that supports juniors and seniors to increase the number of competitively trained URM who enroll in research doctorates, by strengthening their academic preparation, motivation and research training. Independent research conducted under the direction of faculty mentors serve as a core element to induce MARC scholars to pursue graduate school and research-focused careers. Over 100 faculty with experience training URM undergraduates and with funded research programs serve as preceptors of MARC scholars. The MARC research training elements are integrated with the undergraduate curriculum and include, 1) individual career and academic advising, 2) a research faculty seminar series, 3) a journal club to introduce scholars to critical reading of current biomedical literature, 4) a workshop on principles, instrumentation and techniques used in biomedical research, 5) independent research directed by faculty mentors, 6) preparation to present oral presentations and posters at local and national conferences, 7) workshop on scientific communications and application to graduate school, 8) weekly individual advice during the graduate school application process and 9) full access to a computer laboratory specifically designed for this program. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The academic preparation and research training of talented underrepresented minority undergraduates is critical to ensure that a diverse and highly trained workforce is available to assume leadership roles in the Nation's biomedical and behavioral research enterprise, to address the need of improving the health of the people of the United States. This project will improve the academic quality and increase the quantity of undergraduates from underrepresented groups being trained as the next generation of biomedical research scientists.