Translational Obesity Undergraduate Research Scholars (TOURS)

项目总结 本科生的研究机会与学生、教师、大学以及 最终，涉及糖尿病、消化系统疾病和肾脏疾病的科学领域。弗吉尼亚理工大学(弗吉尼亚理工大学) 提倡本科生的研究文化，让学生“超越界限”，做好充分的准备 学生们为他们未来的职业生涯做准备。值得注意的是，a)需要基础设施来招收和留住可能无法 通常寻找本科研究机会和b)与翻译相关的知识和技能 需要光谱来提高学生有效地为团队科学做出贡献的能力。《翻译》 肥胖本科生研究(TUR)奖学金项目是美国农业部非常成功的改编版本 暑期学者(2007-2010)。对于巡回学者项目，10名本科生将是 与健康变革研究中心的教师导师(博士和/或医学博士)配对 在VT的行为。目前，巡回学者导师有1400万美元的过去和现在的NIDDK资金，以及 目前来自其他来源的2750万美元研究资金。该项目有一个春季学期的自主学习 组件，为学生为期10周的密集研究沉浸做好准备。在为期10周的计划中， 学生将在研究实验室内平均每周工作38个小时，并参加参观学者特别 课程周刊(例如，资质、多样性和包容性、沟通技能、研究道德)。这个 计划的最终结果是访问研究现场，包括NIDDK校园，以及介绍他们的工作 在弗吉尼亚理工大学本科生研究研讨会上。我们的目标是提高……的比例和代表性 从事NIDDK相关工作的学生，提高学者的研究技能能力(针对每个 实验室)，并探索导致导师留任的因素。这些结果将通过混合的- 方法方法，包括第三方评估者以及学者和计划咨询委员会 反馈。弗吉尼亚理工大学这笔为期5年的NIDDK赠款的影响将是培养出50名接受NIDDK培训的学生 研究人员，以及至少20名以NIDDK为导向的导师参与以学习者为中心的体验式本科研究 程序。

PROJECT SUMMARY Undergraduate research opportunities are linked to improved outcomes for students, faculty, universities, and, ultimately, the scientific field of involving diabetes and digestive and kidney diseases. Virginia Tech (VT) promotes a culture of undergraduate research that moves students “beyond boundaries” to best prepare students for their future careers. Notably, a) infrastructure is needed to recruit and retain students who may not typically seek out undergraduate research opportunities and b) knowledge and skills related to the translational spectrum are needed to improve students' abilities to contribute effectively to team science. The Translational Obesity Undergraduate Research (TOUR) Scholar program is an adapted version of the highly successful USDA Summer Scholars (2007-2010). For the TOUR Scholars program, 10 undergraduate research students will be paired with faculty mentors (PhD and/or MDs) within the Center for Transformative Research on Health Behaviors at VT. Currently, TOUR Scholar mentors have $14M in past and current NIDDK funding, as well as $27.5M in current research funding from other sources. The program has a spring semester independent study component to prepare students for their 10-week research intensive immersion. Within the 10-week program, students will work an average of 38 hours per week within a research lab as well as attend TOUR Scholar specific curriculum weekly (e.g., grantsmanship, diversity and inclusion, communication skills, research ethics). The program culminates with research site visits, including the NIDDK campus, as well as presentation of their work at the VT Undergraduate Research Symposium. We aim to increase the proportion and representativeness of students who pursue NIDDK-related jobs, improve scholars' competencies with research skills (specific to each lab), and explore factors that lead to mentor retention. These outcomes will be measured through a mixed- methods approach, including a third-party evaluator as well as scholar and program advisory committee feedback. The impact of this 5-year NIDDK grant at Virginia Tech will be to produce 50 NIDDK-trained researchers, and at least 20 NIDDK-oriented mentors in a learner-centered, experiential undergraduate research program.