Strides Toward Encouraging Professions in Science (STEPS)

描述（由申请人提供）：自1998年以来，STEPS项目一直是以下机构之间的合作：丹佛大都会州立学院（Metro State）；丹佛社区学院（CCD）；奥罗拉社区学院（CCA）。该项目在参与的社区学院（CCD和CCA）中确定并选择对科学感兴趣的少数族裔学生，让他们参与课外体验和研究，这些体验和研究将引导他们：1)从事生物医学研究；2)进入大都会州立大学这项为期五年的资助由Rosemarie DePoy-Walker博士监督，咨询委员会的意见和见解，包括参与资助的教师，Metro State和CCD的院长，赞助项目的参与，以及资助和合同会计经理的参与。两个重要的项目目标是：1)增加少数民族学生进入科学领域的人数，否则他们可能不会考虑从事生物医学研究；2)增加少数族裔学生在从事生物医学研究事业时的成功。通过这种机构合作关系，STEPS项目通过引入补充教学，获得导师，帮助修改社区学院的课程，使其更接近Metro州立大学和其他四年制大学的低级别课程，并为社区学院的教师提供机会，参与有助于他们提高课程的活动，为所有参与特定门户课程的合作社区学院学生提供支持。此外，STEPS项目还在参与的社区大学中识别和选择一些未被充分代表的少数族裔学生，这些学生表现出对科学的兴趣，并且教师认为他们有潜力。这些学生接触到课外活动和经验，希望能引导他们从事生物医学研究的职业。参加STEPS在许多方面鼓励进入学士学位机构Metro State。选定的STEPS参与者参加一个研讨会，该研讨会旨在向这些学生介绍他们参与本科研究所需的特殊技能。该研讨会题为“生物医学研究导论”（IBR），提供：1)向Metro州立大学和洛瑞校区的生物技术实验室设施介绍；2)对学生进行图书馆、计算机、实验室和生物技术方面的教育；3)告知STEPS参与者职业机会和实现这些机会所需的教育途径。通过这种涉及多个高等教育机构的合作设计，少数民族学生更容易过渡到学士学位课程，并支持和鼓励他们探索生物医学研究事业。美国国立卫生研究院（NIH）资助的“大步迈向鼓励科学专业”（STEPS）项目为来自健康差异人群和/或在基础科学、生物医学、临床或行为健康研究职业领域代表性不足的少数群体的合格本科生提供研究培训机会。STEPS提供研究培训的目的是：a)鼓励来自目标人群的本科生从事基础科学、生物医学、临床和行为健康研究领域的职业；(B)扩大针对目标人群的本科生的研究工作和科学培训，以涵盖健康问题；C)帮助来自这些群体的本科生参与合作研究计划，接受研究培训，并参与研究机构的原始数据收集。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Since 1998, the STEPS program has been a collaboration among the following institutions: Metropolitan State College of Denver (Metro State); the Community College of Denver (CCD); and the Community College of Aurora (CCA). The project identifies and selects underrepresented minority students expressing interest in science at the participating community colleges (CCD and CCA) to be involved in extracurricular experiences and research that will lead them to: 1) pursue careers in biomedical research; and 2) matriculate to Metro State. This five-year grant is supervised by Dr. Rosemarie DePoy-Walker, with input and insights from an Advisory Committee, including faculty involved in the grant, deans from Metro State and CCD, Sponsored Program participation, and involvement by the Grants and Contracts Accounting Manager. Two significant project goals are to: 1) escalate the numbers of minority students entering the sciences, who might not have otherwise considered a biomedical research career; and, 2) increase minority student success as they pursue biomedical research careers. Through this institutional partnership, the STEPS program supports all students at the partner community colleges involved in specific gateway courses by the introduction of Supplemental Instruction, access to tutors, helping modify the curriculum at the community colleges to more closely match the lower division courses at Metro State and other 4-yr colleges and by providing opportunities for the community college faculty to engage in activities which will help them enhance their courses. Additionally, the STEPS program identifies and selects cohorts of underrepresented minority students at the participating community colleges who express an interest in science and whose instructors believe have potential. These students are exposed to extracurricular activities and experiences that hopefully will lead them to pursue careers in biomedical research. Participation in STEPS encourages the matriculation to the baccalaureate institution, Metro State, in many ways. Selected STEPS participants participate in a seminar, which serves to introduce these students to the special skills they will need to participate in undergraduate research. This seminar, entitled "Introduction to Biomedical Research" (IBR), provides: 1) an orientation to Metro State and the biotechnology laboratory facilities on the Lowry campus; 2) educates students in library, computer, laboratory and biotechnology techniques; and 3) informs STEPS participants of career opportunities and the necessary educational pathways to achieve them. Through this collaborative design involving multiple higher education institutions, underrepresented minority students have an easier transition to baccalaureate programs and are supported and encouraged in their exploration of biomedical research careers. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded "Strides Toward Encouraging Professions in Science" (STEPS) program provides research training opportunities to qualified undergraduate students who are from health disparities populations and/or are underrepresented minority groups in basic science, biomedical, clinical, or behavioral health research career fields. STEPS provides research training for the purpose of a) encouraging undergraduate students who are from the targeted populations to pursue careers in basic science, biomedical, clinical and behavioral health research fields; b) broadening the research efforts and scientific training of undergraduate students from the targeted populations to encompass health issues; c) assisting undergraduate students who are from such populations to participate in collaborative research initiatives and receive research training and participate in original data collection at research institutions.