Resource in Education in Microbiology and Immunology

描述（由申请人提供）：本提案的长期目标是为来自代表性不足的少数群体的受训人员做好准备，使其成为生物医学界杰出的研究科学家和领导者。该培训计划将提供微生物学和免疫学方面的研究和教育机会，这些研究和教育机会与许多不成比例地影响少数民族和医疗服务不足群体的健康问题直接相关（例如，关节炎、癌症、心血管疾病、糖尿病、HIV和其他性病以及呼吸道疾病）。该计划将创建一个具有共同科学兴趣和经验的高度凝聚力的受训人员骨干，并将利用罗切斯特大学（UR）临床和转化科学研究所创造的优秀培训环境以及微生物学和免疫学的多个博士前T32奖项。学员还将受益于免疫学和传染病领域计划扩大的研究机会，以及对这一既定和成功的PREP计划的强有力的机构支持。该方案有三个具体目标。首先，将创造一个支持性，富有成效和令人兴奋的环境，学员将在微生物学，免疫学和病毒学方面进行出色的研究，同时在项目教师的监督下担任全职实验室技术人员。这将通过汇集一个高度互动和经验丰富的一组资金充足的教师关注代表性不足的少数民族受训人员的进步，其研究兴趣跨越各种各样的主题，其实验室使用广泛的实验方法来实现。该计划的第二个目标是提供高质量的教育机会，为未来的博士研究做好准备。为此，每个学员将在教师导师的监督下进行独立的研究项目。此外，还将为每个受训人员制定一个专门的学习计划，以满足每个人的独特需要。这将包括少量精心挑选的课程，旨在（a）提供所需技能/领域的指导，（B）展示博士研究的学术准备，以及（c）获得博士学位的学术学分。在罗切斯特大学。该计划的第三个目标是提供一个高度丰富的学习环境，具有强大的同伴支持。充实活动将包括科学生存和沟通技能的指导，参加国家科学会议，参加年度研讨会和GRE准备课程，以及选择，邀请和会见校外研讨会发言人的机会。最后，将创建一个学员社交网络，学员将与同行导师进行配对，以实现共事、合作和支持。 来自弱势群体的个人将获得教育和培训，使他们能够获得进入并完成博士学位所需的基本学术证书和研究技能。选择机构的项目。有了这些学位，他们将能够成为解决减少健康差距领域的生产力研究科学家。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The long-term goal of this proposal is to prepare trainees from underrepresented minority groups for careers as outstanding research scientists and leaders in the biomedical community. This training program will provide research and education opportunities in microbiology and immunology that are of direct relevance to many of the health problems that disproportionately affect minorities and medically underserved groups (e.g., arthritis, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, HIV and other STDs, and respiratory diseases). The program will create a highly cohesive cadre of trainees with shared scientific interests and experiences, and will leverage the outstanding training environment created by the University of Rochester (UR)'s Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute and multiple predoctoral T32 awards in microbiology and immunology. Trainees will also benefit from a planned expansion of research opportunities in the area of immunology and infectious diseases, and from strong institutional support for this established and successful PREP program. This program has three specific objectives. First, a supportive, productive, and exciting environment will be created, in which trainees will conduct outstanding research in microbiology, immunology, and virology while working as full-time laboratory technicians under the supervision of a program faculty member. This will be achieved by bringing together a highly interactive and experienced group of well-funded faculty concerned with the advancement of underrepresented minority trainees, whose research interests span a diverse range of topics, and whose laboratories use a wide array of experimental approaches. The second aim of the program is to provide high quality educational opportunities that will prepare trainees for future doctoral studies. To this end, each trainee will perform an independent research project under the supervision of a faculty mentor. In addition, an individual plan of study will be developed for each trainee, tailored specifically to meet the unique needs of that individual. This will include a small number of carefully selected courses, designed to (a) provide instruction in needed skills/area, (b) demonstrate academic preparedness for doctoral studies, and (c) gain academic credit towards the Ph.D. at the University of Rochester. The third aim of the program is to provide a highly enriched learning environment, with strong peer support. Enrichment activities will include instruction in scientific survival and communication skills, attendance at national scientific meetings, participation in an annual symposium and a GRE preparation course, and the opportunity to select, invite and meet with extramural seminar speakers. Finally a trainee social network will be created, and trainees will be matched with peer mentors for collegiality, collaborations and support. Individuals from underpresented minorities will gain the education and training that will allow them to acquire the essential academic credentials and research skills needed to allow them to enter and complete Ph.D. programs at select institutions. With these degrees they will be able to become productive research scientists in areas that address reducing health disparities.