UPWARDS Training Program (Underrepresented Minorities Working Towards Research Diversity in Science)

项目摘要/摘要 作为公认的癌症研究领先者，1 MD安德森癌症中心已做好准备，将在 癌症研究队伍严重缺乏多样性，造成了相当大的差异。2-6我们 将通过早期干预计划做到这一点，该计划培养学生对癌症研究的持续兴趣 在科学界代表不足和少数群体(URMS)。自2011年以来，我们执导了一位暑期本科生 培训计划涵盖345名受训人员(2011-2018年)，其中包括120个城市管理机构。值得注意的是，结果 对于城市管理学院和我们计划中的非少数族裔受训人员来说，没有区别；城市管理学院和非少数族裔校友是 注册或完成STEM学士学位(98.8%比98.1%)和博士学位(均为67.1%)，并 留住STEM教育或劳动力(分别为98.3%和98.6%)。在这些成功的基础上，我们有 为高中和本科生设计了一个全面的癌症研究培训计划，通过 R25是主动的。在我们专注于城市轨道交通系统的计划中，我们解决了城市轨道交通系统追求和成功的主要障碍 主干，包括：1)有限的研究经验，2)职业道路知识，3)科学的身份形成 和接触科学；4)不发达的专业精神和沟通技能；5)不足 研究、教育和职业指导；6)研究生申请过程中的障碍。我们的 拟议的向上培训计划(代表不足的少数群体致力于研究多样性 理科)有3条轨道：全日制，为期12周的暑期研究，面向1)高中生和2)本科生以及3) 为本科生提供为期40周的兼职研究。在每个轨道中，我们提出了以下目标以解决 上述障碍：目标1)使用有重点的城市管理系统招聘和计划的整体战略 包容性，并通过一批 优秀的导师队伍。目标2)开发和提供个性化的指导、职业探索、 以及专业发展，刺激研究生教育和癌症研究事业的追求。 目标3)教育和激励城市管理系统社区、STEM管道中的年轻一代，以及 通过培训、STEM外展和实践，为我们的学生提供家庭和支持系统 订婚。我们将鼓励我们的学员领导和鼓励他们的社区和年轻人 通过亲身实践的STEM外联活动以及设计和提供社区教育，为几代人提供服务。 目标4)实施并保持严格的评估计划，持续评估和颁布 从这些努力中衍生出新颖的、以证据为导向的最佳做法。最后，我们承诺传播我们的 通过同行评议的出版物提供调查结果和最佳做法。通过向上计划，我们将建立 根据我们以前的经验和最佳实践，专门推出癌症研究培训计划 旨在满足我们当地社区和全国的城市轨道交通学员的需求。我们预计我们的努力将 有效增加STEM教育渠道和癌症研究队伍的多样性。

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT As a recognized leader in cancer research,1 MD Anderson Cancer Center is well poised to address a significant lack of diversity in the cancer research workforce that contributes to considerable disparities.2-6 We will do so via early intervention programs that foster sustained interest in cancer research in students underrepresented and minority in Science (URMS). Since 2011, we have directed a summer undergraduate training program encompassing 345 trainees (from 2011-2018), including 120 URMS. Significantly, outcomes for URMS and non-minority trainees in our program are indistinguishable; URMS and non-minority alumni are enrolled in or have completed STEM bachelor’s (98.8% vs 98.1%) and doctoral (both 67.1%) degrees and are retained in STEM education or workforce (98.3% vs 98.6%, respectively). Built upon these successes, we have designed a comprehensive cancer research training program for high school and undergraduate URMS via the R25 YES initiative. In our URMS-focused program, we address major barriers in URMS pursuit and success in STEM, including: limited 1) research experience, 2) career path knowledge, and 3) scientific identity formation and exposure to science; 4) underdeveloped professionalism and communication skills; 5) inadequate research, educational, and career mentoring; and 6) barriers in the graduate application process. Our proposed UPWARDS Training Program (Underrepresented Minorities Working Towards Research Diversity in Science) has 3 tracks: full-time, 12-week summer research for 1) high-schoolers and 2) undergraduates and 3) part-time, 40-week research for undergraduates. Within each track, we propose the following aims to address the aforementioned barriers: Aim 1) Employ focused URMS recruitment and holistic strategies for program inclusion, and deliver didactic learning and hands-on cancer research experiences through a cadre of outstanding mentoring faculty. Aim 2) Develop and deliver individualized mentoring, career exploration, and professional development that stimulates graduate education and cancer research career pursuit. Aim 3) Educate and inspire URMS communities, young generations in the STEM pipeline, and the families and support systems of our students through training, STEM outreach, and hands-on engagement. We will encourage our trainees to lead and encourage their communities and younger generations through hands-on STEM outreach activities and design and delivery of community education. Aim 4) Implement and maintain a rigorous assessment program with continual appraisal and enactment of novel, evidence-driven best practices derived from these efforts. Lastly, we commit to disseminating our findings and best practices via peer-reviewed publications. Through the UPWARDS Program, we will build upon our prior experiences and best practices to launch a cancer research training program specifically designed to fit the needs of URMS trainees in our local community and nationally. We anticipate our efforts will effectively increase diversity in the STEM educational pipeline and cancer research workforce.