Diversity Action Plan for Mouse Genome Database -
DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) in Bar Harbor, Maine, proposes a summer research internship for four students per year from underrepresented groups to pursue research projects in bioinformatics and genomics, under the mentorship of investigators of the NHGRI-funded Mouse Genome Database (MGD). The proposed Diversity Action Plan (DAP) seeks funding to continue this successful program for four more years, with a goal of encouraging underrepresented students to pursue advanced degrees and careers in genomics-related fields. MGD is regarded as the international scientific community database for mouse, providing high quality, integrated information that supports the translation of the mouse experimental system to the study of human biology and disease. The four MGD DAP bioinformatics interns will be integrated into the existing JAX Summer Student Program (SSP), an internationally recognized residential research experience that has mentored more than 2,100 undergraduates and high school students since 1924. This established JAX program annually hosts 30- 40 students who are selected through a competitive nationwide application process. Each student receives a weekly stipend, subsistence allotment, and travel assistance that enables them to forgo summer jobs and participate in this immersive, transformational research experience. In addition to training in hands-on computational and laboratory work, proposal writing and results presentation, and solid grounding in research ethics and the humane treatment of lab animals, all SSP participants lodge together in a 40-room residence and share abundant social and recreational activities. The JAX SSP--supported by institutional funds, private foundations, and federal grants--has well-established administrative procedures for diversity recruitment and selection, mentor guidance, and program design, management, and evaluation. The Training Coordinator for the proposed DAP will pursue bioinformatics-specific diversity recruitment, support intern training, and track program alumni during their subsequent career development. The DAP Principal Investigator will oversee all DAP planning and implementation, including mentor guidance and program administration. JAX offers a stimulating environment in which motivated, talented undergraduates from diverse backgrounds can learn the fundamentals of scientific inquiry, contribute to research progress, and make great strides in intellectual and personal growth that will guide them in career choices and lifelong learning. The SSP has a proven track record of underrepresented minority (Hispanic, African American, Native American, Pacific Islander/Hawaiian) participation, which is achieved through targeted recruiting nationwide, the SSP website, and alumni networking. The 2014 Summer Student Program had 11 underrepresented minority students (29%), including 7 participants (18%) who were first-generation college students or were economically disadvantaged.
PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANC: The proposed summer internship in bioinformatics and genomics will offer students the opportunity to contribute to active research projects with mentorship from the investigators in the NHGRI-funded Mouse Genome Database (MGD) program at The Jackson Laboratory. The MGD database is designed specifically to facilitate use of the mouse as a model system to enable new discoveries about human health and disease in the age of genome-scale, data-driven biomedical research. We focus on recruiting students from underrepresented groups to ensure diversity in the scientific, medical, and education workforces of the future. The alumni from this immersive research experience will be science ambassadors with a solid grounding in ethics, an appreciation for the challenges and promises of data science for advancing basic human disease research, and zeal to share their love of science for the benefit of society.
