EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES IN GENOMICS RESEARCH FOR UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS

摘要 生物医学科学的多样性是至关重要的，因为不同群体中的人才、经验和观点 对于研究和社会的进步是必要的。基因组学、生物信息学和新领域 来自这些地区的人数正在增长，并将依赖代表不足(UR)群体的参与 作为实践者和社区成员，为这些领域的未来进步而努力。但也存在着很大的差距。 UR团体在更广泛的科学、技术、工程和教育领域获得学位 数学(STEM)学士学位、博士学位和教授学位。世界银行的目标是 华盛顿大学麦克唐纳研究所基因组研究(OGR)项目的机会是 增加基因组学领域代表性不足(UR)学生的招聘和留住，并增加 他们进入竞争激烈的基因组学和生物信息学博士项目的录取率。自2012年以来， 与年头五年相比，OGR学生进入博士项目的比例增加了14% 该计划2007-2011年。在这一成功的基础上，OGR参与者将继续参与活动 旨在为他们在基因组学和相关领域的富有成效的职业生涯做好准备。我们建议改进 通过工作坊和课程培养学生在生物信息学方面的技能，为学生进入大学打下更好的基础 这些研究生课程。我们还建议为华盛顿大学的UR学生提供研究生奖学金 聚焦精准医疗这一新兴领域。该计划的其他功能将包括 与一家为少数族裔服务的机构合作，该机构是UR学生毕业人数最多的机构之一 茎。我们将通过现场和在线研讨会，通过这一合作伙伴关系传播我们计划的部分内容， 计划扩展到其他机构，以便更多的UR学生为毕业做好准备 申请程序。总而言之，扩展后的OGR计划将帮助我们消除STEM中的障碍 为希望从事这些领域的UR学生提供教育。

ABSTRACT Diversity in biomedical sciences is essential as the talents, experiences and perspectives within diverse groups are necessary for the progression of research and society. Genomics, bioinformatics and newer fields that have stemmed from these areas are growing and will rely on the participation of underrepresented (UR) groups as practitioners and community members for future advances in these areas. However, there is great disparity in degree attainment among UR groups in the broader fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in baccalaureate degrees, doctoral degrees and the professoriate. The goals of the Opportunities in Genomics Research (OGR) Program at the McDonnell Institute at Washington University are to increase the recruitment and retention of underrepresented (UR) students in genomics fields and to increase their rate of matriculation into highly competitive genomics and bioinformatics Ph.D. programs. Since 2012, the percentage of OGR students entering Ph.D. programs has increased by 14% compared to the first five year of the program 2007-2011. Building on this success, OGR participants will continue to engage in activities designed to prepare them for productive careers in genomics and related fields. We propose to improve student skills in bioinformatics through workshops and courses, giving students a better foundation to enter these graduate programs. We also propose a graduate fellowship for UR students at Washington University focused on the emerging field of precision medicine. Additional features of this program will include a partnership with a minority-serving institution that is among the top ranked for graduating UR students in STEM. We will disseminate portions of our program through this partnership via live and online workshops, with plans for expansion to other institutions so that more UR students are prepared for the graduate application process. Taken together, the expanded OGR program will help us to remove barriers in STEM education for UR students who desire to pursue these fields.