PROJECT SUMMARY
The University of Rhode Island proposes to establish the URI ESTEEMED program to provide a diverse cohort
of students from underrepresented backgrounds with the skills and resources necessary to pursue advanced
education and degree programs in bioengineering and related disciplines. The goals of URI ESTEEMED
program are (1) to develop a cohort of scholars from underrepresented backgrounds who embody critical
thinking, engineering design, and fundamental research skills that enable them to develop an early scientific
inquiry and research mindset, and (2) to support the development of Scholars’ STEM identity and self-efficacy
through self-exploration, faculty and near-peer mentoring, academic and professional development advising,
academic support and preparation, and positive research experiences. Scholars selected for URI ESTEEMED
will participate in the program through their first two years of college, which involves intentionally designed
activities, including a summer bridge program, academic year training and research activities, early exposure to
biomedical research, and strong mentoring by faculty and peers. Participants will advance through increasingly
sophisticated activities to provide them with a chance to engage in mentored bioengineering research, develop
and hone technical skills, and fully realize their scientific identity. Together with numerous community-building
activities, this progressive program will instill students with a sense of personal belonging and engagement within
the STEM community and promote participation towards advanced degree programs. We hypothesize that the
development of scholar identity and self-efficacy will result in improved academic and research performance and
deeper engagement with scientific fundamentals. The PI of URI ESTEEMED – a tenured female professor in
engineering with strong leadership and training skills – will oversee program design and implementation with
support from a professor in engineering (Co-I) who has extensive experience in the LGBTQ+ community and
curriculum development. In achieving the URI ESTEEMED goals, it is anticipated that 100% of ESTEEMED
Scholars will be prepared to enter an advanced honors program, at least 90% will enroll in an advanced program
after their sophomore year, and 90% of scholars will self-identify as a bioengineering or biomedical scientist.
Overall, through the URI ESTEEMED program, we will create a robust and inclusive environment to support
underrepresented students early in their academic careers, who possess the technical and soft skills necessary
to excel in advanced research programs and ultimately pursue Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. degrees.