Research Opportunities for Undergraduates: Training in Environmental Health Sciences (ROUTES)

摘要目的：“本科生研究机会： 环境健康科学（ROUTES）“更新是为了继续激励和发展科学家，工程师 和其他来自代表性不足背景的相关研究人员， 环境健康（EH）研究。ROUTES将通过提供代表性不足的少数民族来实现这一目标。 (URM)本科生在EH领域的不同主题的基础和转化研究经验。 我们之所以关注EH，是因为该主题对不成比例地受到影响的URM具有重要性和相关性 社区，在环境卫生领域缺乏统一资源管理机制的代表性，以及环境卫生领域复杂的、协作的和 EH研究的跨学科性质。方法：我们将建立一个多学科，本科， 该计划围绕EH学科的基础和转化研究，借鉴并利用 东北大学（NEU）强大的合作教育课程和支持结构。我们将提供 通过与工业界、政府和非营利组织建立伙伴关系，获得有意义的研究经验 部门，以及通过在校园内，在健康科学的环境卫生相关计划资助的研究， 工程、环境科学、环境正义和政策领域。我们的计划提供 在现有的、非常成功的ROUTES计划的基础上，提供EH领域的指导和研究专业知识 该模型包括（1）通过URM本科生外展参与和招聘机会 在NEU，（2）URM学生六个月的全职合作研究经验，（3）有针对性的指导和 支持服务，以协助URM学生参与研究生学习和研究生涯，以及 (4)通过与更大的研究社区的参与，为URM学生的专业发展。在 拟议的更新，通过扩大从目前的全职研究经验的ROUTES合作社的经验 在NEU研究实验室，包括在工业，政府和非营利组织的转化研究机会 组织，我们将多样化的数量和类型的经验提供给学生，并增加 通过利用资金，受ROUTES计划影响的学生人数。路线将建立在 现有的NEU计划网络，招募和支持URM学生在STEM和其他领域，包括 NEU现有的P42（中心）和T32（培训）计划，为学生提供更强大的途径连接。 项目评估计划包括精心设计的评估和审查， 改善，以最大限度地发挥功效。预期成果：ROUTES将扩大本科URM人才库 有兴趣探索EH研究职业的学生，并为多达50名学生创造机会 五年以上参加有偿实践研究经验，指导和补充活动。 通过这些方法，ROUTES将继续鼓励URM从事EH的研究事业， 满足国家的迫切需要。

SUMMARY. Objective: The objective of “Research Opportunities for Undergraduates: Training in Environmental Health Sciences (ROUTES)” renewal is to continue to inspire and develop scientists, engineers and other related researchers from underrepresented backgrounds to be engaged in the increasingly complex field of environmental health (EH) research. ROUTES will achieve this by providing underrepresented minority (URM) undergraduate students with basic and translational research experiences in diverse topics in EH fields. Our focus on EH is driven by the importance and relevance of this topic to disproportionately affected URM communities, the lack of representation of URMs in EH fields, and the complex, collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of EH research. Approach: We will establish a multidisciplinary, undergraduate, program centered around basic and translational research in EH disciplines that draws from and leverages Northeastern’s (NEU) strong cooperative education curriculum and support structure. We will provide meaningful research experiences through established partnerships in industry, government and non-profit sectors, as well as through on-campus, funded research in EH-related programs in health sciences, engineering, environmental sciences, and environmental justice and policy fields. Our program provides mentoring and research expertise in EH fields by building on an existing, highly successful ROUTES program model that has included (1) engagement and recruitment opportunities through URM undergraduate outreach at NEU, (2) full-time co-op research experiences for six months for URM students, (3) targeted mentoring and support services to assist URM student participants in pursing graduate studies and research careers, and (4) professional development for URM students through engagement with larger research communities. In the proposed renewal, by expanding ROUTES co-op experiences from the current full-time research experiences in NEU research labs to include translational research opportunities in industry, government and non-profit organizations, we will diversify the number and types of experiences available to students, and increase the number of students impacted by the ROUTES program through leveraging of funds. ROUTES will build upon a network of existing NEU programs that recruit and support URM students in STEM and other fields, including existing P42 (center) and T32 (training) programs at NEU, for more robust pathway connections for students. The program evaluation plan includes well-designed assessment and review that will provide continuous improvement to maximize efficacy. Expected Results: ROUTES will enlarge the pool of undergraduate URM students that are interested in exploring EH research careers and create opportunities for up to 50 students over five years to participate in paid hands-on research experiences, mentoring, and complementary activities. Through these methods, ROUTES will continue to encourage URMs to pursue research careers in EH, thus addressing a critical national need.