VCU Minority Access to Research Careers Program (VCU-MARC)

描述(由申请人提供)：弗吉尼亚联邦大学(VCU)的MARC项目是由一项自我研究推动的，该研究表明，就攻读生物医学和行为科学博士学位的人数而言，该机构的表现不佳。尽管参与学科招收的人数偏低(生物学：平均327名学生，占学生总数的26.7%；化学：平均63.6名学生，占学生总数的24%；生物医学工程：平均20名学生，占学生总数的10.5%；化学/生命科学工程：平均20.5名学生，占学生总数的19.9%)，但2002-2006年间，只有4名南加州大学校友获得了生命、生物或医学博士学位。重要的是，在参与的学科中，有相当数量的URM学生被VCU荣誉学院录取或有资格进入VCU荣誉学院(每年52名学生)，这使他们成为获得本科研究经验的理想人选。基于这些数据，我们认为VCU处于有利地位，可以为增加代表不足的生物医学研究人员的数量做出重要贡献，并建议将这里描述的MARC计划作为这样做的一种机制。潜在的VCU-MARC学者将在一年级和二年级被发现，并报名参加一系列以研究为重点的课程，以及在VCU教职员工的实验室指导夏季研究经验。在三年级被录取后，MARC学者将参加额外的课程，旨在磨练他们的口语和书面沟通技能，提高研究生入学考试的表现，并协助准备博士培训申请。此外，Marc学者将参加VCU的长期指导研究经验和其他机构的夏季研究。在整个MARC计划中，学者将参与丰富活动，强调发展批判性思维/解决问题的能力，提供发展沟通技能的机会，并提供旨在建立信心、建立自我效能和促进研究成果所必需的独立性的网络机会。我们坚信，VCU MARC项目不仅将确保MARC支持的学生承诺并完成生物医学科学博士学位，而且MARC学生的热情和激情将影响他们没有支持的同龄人，并激发他们对生物医学研究的兴趣。 相关性：尽管近年来取得了进展，但在生物医学研究中未被充分代表的少数群体的数量仍然不足。凭借其庞大的URM学生人数和密集的研究环境，VCU正准备改善这一状况。这项MARC计划的目标是为URM优等生提供生物、化学、生物医学工程和化学/生命科学工程方面的研究培训。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) MARC program was prompted by a self-study which indicated that the institution is underperforming with respect to numbers of underrepresented students pursuing the PhD in biomedical and behavioral sciences. Although substantial numbers of underrepresented individuals are enrolled in the participating disciplines (Biology: average 327 students, 26.7% of students; Chemistry: average 63.6 students, 24% of students; Biomedical Engineering: average 20 students, 10.5% of students; Chemical/Life Sciences Engineering: average 20.5 students; 19.9% of students), only four URM VCU alumni earned doctorates in the Life, Biological, or Medical sciences between 2002-2006. Importantly, a substantial number of URM students in the participating disciplines are either enrolled in or eligible for the VCU Honors College (52 students annually), making them ideal candidates for undergraduate research experiences. Based on these data, we argue that VCU is well-positioned to make important contributions to efforts to increase numbers of underrepresented biomedical researchers and propose the MARC program described herein as a mechanism to do so. Potential VCU-MARC Scholars will be identified during the freshman and sophomore years and enrolled in a series of research-focused courses as well as mentored summer research experiences in the laboratories of VCU faculty. Once admitted to the program in the junior year, MARC Scholars will enroll in additional coursework designed to hone their oral and written communications skills, improve performance on the Graduate Record Examination, and assist with preparation of applications for PhD training. In addition, MARC Scholars will participate in long-term mentored research experiences at VCU and summer research at other institutions. Throughout the MARC program, Scholars will participate in enrichment activities that stress the development of critical thinking/ problem solving capacities, offer opportunities to develop communications skills, and provide networking opportunities intended to build confidence, establish self-efficacy, and promote the independence that is necessary to be productive in research. We strongly believe that the VCU MARC program will not only ensure MARC-supported students' commitment and completion of the PhD in biomedical sciences but that the enthusiasm and passion of MARC students will impact on their non-supported peers and spark their interest in biomedical research as well. RELEVANCE: Despite gains in recent years, the numbers of underrepresented minorities in biomedical research are still inadequate. With its large population of URM students and intensive research environment, VCU is poised to improve this situation. The objective of this MARC proposal is to provide research training for URM honors students in Biology, Chemistry, Biomedical Engineering, and Chemical/ Life Sciences Engineering.