Expanding Participation by Minorities in Biomedical Sciences

描述(由申请者提供)：IMSD生物医学研究生项目确实改变了密歇根大学的研究生教育。自1996年该计划建立以来，参加博士课程(生物科学、化学和生物化学、工程和人类服务心理学和物理学)的人数不足(URM)人数分别从0%、1%、2%、8%和0%增加到目前的14%、10%、25%、8%、19%和13%。这相当于URM的入学人数(美国公民)从1996年的5名学生增加到目前的44名学生。另有17名管理学院院士已取得博士学位，另有25名现已入学的管理学院学生已完成课程，晋级为候选人，并预计在未来2至3年内取得博士学位。相比之下，在IMSD项目之前的17年里，只有7名URM在参与博士项目时获得了扫描电子显微镜博士学位。对IMSD项目的兴趣继续攀升，2007年有58个URM应用程序。留职率(过去4年为91%；自成立以来为76%)大大超过部门和机构的平均水平。我们现在建议通过(1)将IMSD的学费和工资支持从两年减少到一年，(2)取消IMSD对影响较小的部分(如供应资金)的资助，以及(3)在我们新实施的GPILS(生命科学研究生课程)框架下扩大对URM的参与。参与项目的系主任和教职员工已经提出提供第二年的资助，这一重大承诺反映了校园氛围的重大变化。这些修改，加上额外的新承诺，以匹配GPILS-生物化学项目和新的GPILS院长对三名一年级学生的支持，将使我们能够将一年级的招生人数从目前制度下的每年8名学生增加到每年21名新学生。如果成功，我们建议的项目每年将产生16-18名URM博士生。由于每年约有325个URM获得生物学博士学位，94个获得化学博士学位(NSF数据，1998-2005年)，这对全国产出的贡献很大(~5%)。拟议的计划还显著降低了国际管理发展学院每个博士学位的成本，从当前运营计划下的每个学位约106,000美元降至拟议计划下的每个学位约47,000美元。这些数字包括所有与IMSD相关的成本，包括F&A，并计入了当前的流失率。国际和平倡议和方案协调员将继续努力传播有关有效多样化和指导做法的信息，包括组织和参加国家会议以及发表同行评议的文章。 公共卫生相关性：密歇根大学国际管理发展学院生物医学研究员博士项目的目的是增加在生物医学和行为科学领域获得博士学位并在学术界、政府和工业界获得领导和研究职位的少数族裔人数。将开发材料和工具，以促进在其他学术机构复制课程内容。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The IMSD Biomedical Graduate Fellows Program has literally transformed graduate education at UMBC. Since the Program was established in 1996, underrepresented (URM) enrollment in participating PhD programs (Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Engineering and Human Services Psychology and Physics) has increased from 0%, 1%, 2%, 8% and 0%, respectively, to current levels of 14%, 10%, 25%, 8%, 19% and 13%, respectively. This corresponds to an increase in URM enrollment (U.S. citizens) from 5 students in 1996 to 44 students at present. An additional 17 IMSD Fellows have already received Ph.D. degrees, and 25 currently enrolled IMSD students have finished courses, advanced to candidacy, and are expected to earn PhD degrees in the next 2-3 years. By comparison, only 7 URMs earned SEM PhDs in participating PhD programs in the 17 years preceding the IMSD program. Interest in the IMSD program continues to climb, with 58 URM applications in AY-07. Retention rates (91% over the past 4 years; 76% since inception) greatly exceed departmental and institutional averages. We now propose to double URM participation in our program by (1) reducing IMSD tuition and salary support from two years to one year, (2) eliminating IMSD funding of low-impact components (such as supply funding), and (3) expansion under our newly implemented GPILS (Graduate Program in Life Sciences) umbrella. Chairs and faculty of participating departments have offered to provide second-year funding, a substantial commitment that reflects a significant change in campus climate. These modifications, combined with additional new commitments to match support for three first-year students by the GPILS-Biochemistry Program and the new Dean of the GPILS, will allow us to increase first year enrollments from 8 students per year under the current system to 21 new students per year. If successful, our proposed program should generate at 16-18 URM PhD students annually. Since about 325 URMs earn Biology PhDs and 94 earn Chemistry PhDs each year (NSF data, 1998-2005), this represents a significant contribution (~ 5%) to the national output. The proposed program also significantly reduces the IMSD cost per PhD degree, from ~ $106,000 per degree under the current operating plan to ~ $47,000 per degree under the proposed plan. These figures include all IMSD-related costs, including F&A, and account for the current attrition rate. The PI and Program Coordinator will continue their efforts to disseminate information about effective diversification and mentoring practices, including organizing and participating in national meetings and publishing peer-reviewed articles. Public Health Relevance: The purpose of the IMSD Biomedical Fellows PhD Program at UMBC is to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in the biomedical and behavioral sciences that earn PhD degrees and obtain leadership and research positions in academics, government, and industry. Materials and tools will be developed to facilitate replication of program components at other academic institutions.