First Time Summer Research Experience in Environmental Health Sciences

描述（由申请人提供）： 密歇根州立大学（MSU）将为代表性不足的少数民族（URM）学生开发R25夏季本科生研究经验（SURE）。它将提供一个为期12周的环境毒理学和健康的开始研究经验，重点是环境毒物的作用机制，为每年7名本科生的科学专业后，他们的第一或第二年的类工作; 4个职位将预留给这些学生。其余职位将提供给任何学生。每年至少有5个职位将分配给代表性不足的少数民族学生。重点是第一次研究经验的假设为导向的项目与环境健康。最终目标是鼓励代表性不足的少数民族学生攻读博士学位。环境健康或相关生物医学科学的课程。有三个目标。第一个和主要目标 是提供一个密集的经验，在假设为导向的研究项目相关的NIEHS使命，因为这往往是关键的第一步，推出一个成功的研究生生涯的学生。第二个目标是提高学生的沟通技能，特别是在科学报告方面。第三个目标是培养一种受指导的社区意识。学生将通过一系列的社会和专业发展机会来补充研究经验。为期一周的“训练营”题为“介绍实验室研究”将之前，学生开始他们的项目。它将作为一个基础，提供一个有凝聚力的介绍在实验室工作的基本方面。拟议的SURE计划利用主要研究者与波多黎各大学（UPR）系统中的两个本科院校建立的伙伴关系：UPR-Cayey和UPR-Arecibo，以及西南部的少数民族服务机构（MSIs）。这些机构都缺乏重要的研究机会。这些伙伴关系导致17名西班牙裔学生进入博士学位。在过去的五年里，生物医学科学。招聘将涉及由首席研究员访问校园，并将与研讨会相结合，让学生接触到环境健康科学的概念。夏季研究项目将在联邦资助的实验室的研究人员与环境毒理学和健康的研究兴趣。充实活动将包括每周对学生的研究，就业机会和研究的道德方面的讨论非正式介绍;最后的口头和海报演示将是必需的。这些活动将提高学生的演讲技巧，并帮助他们专注于转化生物医学科学的“大局”。将鼓励学生参加国家科学会议，介绍他们的研究。理想情况下，这些会议还将为本科生举办职业发展/教育活动，例如毒理学学会会议。这将进一步让学生接触环境毒理学和健康，让他们建立网络，并与其他代表性不足的少数民族本科生建立社区意识。一个长期的结果是增加了在生物医学/环境卫生科学中代表性不足的少数民族科学家的人数。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): An R25 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) for under-represented minority (URM) students will be developed at Michigan State University (MSU). It will provide a 12-week beginning research experience in environmental toxicology and health, with emphasis on the mechanisms of action of environmental toxicants, for 7 per year undergraduate student's science majors after their 1st or 2nd yr of class work; 4 positions will be set aside for these students. The remaining positions will be available to any student. A minimum of 5 positions per year will be allocated for under-represented minority students. The focus is on 1st time research experience on hypothesis-directed projects related to environmental health. The ultimate goal is to encourage under-represented minority students to enroll in Ph.D. programs in environmental health or allied biomedical sciences. There are three objectives. The first and principal objective is to provide an intensive experience in hypothesis-directed research on projects relevant to the NIEHS mission, as this is often the critical first step to launching a student into a successful graduate career. A second objective is to enhance students' communication skills, especially with respect to scientific presentations. The third objective is to develop a sense of mentored community. Students will supplement the research experience with a series of social and professional development opportunities. A one-week long "bootcamp" entitled "Introduction to Laboratory Research" will precede the student beginning their project. It will serve as a foundation to provide a cohesive introduction to the fundamental aspects of working in a laboratory. The proposed SURE program leverages partnerships developed by the Principal Investigator with two undergraduate institutions in the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) system: UPR-Cayey and UPR-Arecibo, as well as minority serving institutions (MSIs) in the Southwest. Each of these institutions lacks significant research opportunities. These partnerships have resulted in 17 Hispanic students entering Ph.D. programs in biomedical sciences over the past 5 years. Recruiting will involve visits to the campuses by the Principal Investigator, and will be coupled with a seminar exposing the students to concepts in environmental health sciences. Summer research projects will be in federally-funded laboratories of investigators with research interests in environmental toxicology and health. Enrichment activities will include the weekly informal presentations on student's research, discussion of career opportunities and ethical aspects of research; a final oral and poster presentation will be required. These activities will improve students' presentation skills and help them focus on the "bigger picture" of translational biomedical sciences. Students will be encouraged to attend national scientific meetings to present their research. Ideally, these meetings will also have career development/educational activities for undergrads such as those at the Society of Toxicology meeting. This will further students' exposure to environmental toxicology and health, allow them to network, and develop a sense of community with other under-represented minority undergrads. A long- term outcome is increasing the number of under-represented minority scientists in the biomedical/environmental health sciences.