Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity in the Biomedical Sciences at Norther

描述（由申请人提供）：北方亚利桑那大学（NAU）拥有全国最大的美洲原住民学生入学人数之一，并拥有大量且不断增加的西班牙裔入学人数。NAU的IMSD计划旨在提高保留率，学术成就，并最终提高生物医学研究领域代表性不足的少数民族学生的研究生入学率。为此，在NAU非常成功的计划将继续与修订后的计划重点：低年级本科生将参加在从生物，化学和电气工程部门选择教师导师的实验室文化相关的科学研究。通过实践研究经验和规定的课程相结合，学生将意识到少数民族的健康差距，并了解生物医学研究如何解决少数民族社区面临的当前健康挑战。招募学生在他们的学术生涯的早期阶段进行研究，并提供密集的指导将促进在该计划和大学的保留。为来自代表性不足的少数民族背景的学生，特别是美洲原住民学生提供在文化相关研究领域进行研究的机会，将提高学生对生物医学研究的兴趣，并提高学生作为生物医学研究人员的自我效能。该计划将每年进行评估，以解决以下首要问题：什么是个人，社会和结构因素，促进学生在IMSD计划的成功，并最终在生物医学研究事业？特别感兴趣的是这个程序是一个相关的问题：如何意识到少数民族的健康差距影响倾向于生物医学研究事业？对该计划成功的期望是在独特的URM学生群体的背景下，并根据这所大学过去IMSD计划的结果制定的。实现以下结果将表明计划成功：（1）从第1年到第2年，75%的学生参加了IMSD计划，（2）超过60%的初始计划参与者成功完成了为期2年的培训计划，（3）该计划在增加对生物医学研究职业的兴趣方面取得了可衡量的成功，如使用拟议的评估工具量化的那样，（3）在第4年将>50%的初始计划参与者安置在生物医学科学研究生院，（4）在第4年由NAU的IMSD博士生完成两个学位。 公共卫生相关性：有一个对美洲原住民保留生物医学专业人员的迫切需要，以及在生物医学科学的所有职业领域的美洲原住民和其他代表性不足的少数民族的更大的代表性的国家需要。北方亚利桑那大学的IMSD计划旨在激励美国原住民和其他代表性不足的少数民族成员通过为他们提供实践培训机会并向他们介绍文化相关的研究课题，如少数民族健康差异，来追求生物医学研究科学的职业生涯。通过增加代表性不足的群体的参与，IMSD计划将为关键的医学问题带来多样化的观点，经验和背景，这将最终促进这些健康相关研究领域更高水平的问题解决和创造性思维。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Northern Arizona University (NAU) has one of the largest Native American student enrollments in the country, and has a large and increasing Hispanic enrollment. The IMSD program at NAU seeks to improve retention, academic achievement and, ultimately, graduate school enrollment of underrepresented minority students in biomedical research fields. To this end, the highly successful program at NAU will continue with a revised programmatic focus: lower-division undergraduates will participate in culturally relevant scientific research in the labs of select faculty mentors from the departments of Biology, Chemistry and Electrical Engineering. Through a combination of hands-on research experience and prescribed coursework, students will be made aware of minority health disparities and learn how biomedical research can address current health challenges facing minority communities. Enlisting students in research at an early stage of their academic career and providing intensive mentoring will promote retention in the program and the university. Providing students from underrepresented minority backgrounds, particularly Native American students, with opportunities to conduct research in culturally relevant research areas will increase students' interest in biomedical research as a career and improve students' self-efficacy as biomedical researchers. The program will be evaluated annually to address the following overarching question: What are the individual, social and structural factors that promote student success in the IMSD program and, ultimately, in biomedical research careers? Of particular interest to this program is a related question: How does awareness of minority health disparities affect inclination toward a biomedical research career? Expectations for success of the program are framed in the context of the unique URM student population and in light of results of past IMSD programs at this university. Achievement of the following outcomes will indicate program success: (1) retention of 75% of the students enrolled in the IMSD program from year 1 to year 2, (2) successful completion of the 2-year training program by >60% of initial program participants, (3) measurable success of the program in increasing interest in biomedical research careers as quantified using the proposed evaluation instruments, (3) placement of >50% of the initial program participants into graduate school in biomedical sciences by year 4, (4) completion of two degrees by IMSD doctoral students at NAU by year 4. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: There is a critical need for biomedical professionals on Native American reservations, as well as a national need for greater representation of Native Americans and other underrepresented minorities in all career areas in the biomedical sciences. The IMSD program at Northern Arizona University seeks to inspire Native Americans and members of other underrepresented minorities to pursue careers in biomedical research science by providing them with hands-on training opportunities and introducing them to culturally relevant research topics, such as minority health disparities. By increasing the participation of underrepresented groups, the IMSD program will bring a diversity of perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds to key medical questions, which will ultimately facilitate a higher level of problem solving and creative thinking in these health-related research areas.