Saturday, June 14, 2025
6/14/2025
Academic Science Education and Research Training - ABSTRACT The New Mexico Academic Science Education and Research Training (ASERT) Institutional Research and Career Development Award (IRACDA) consortium recruits, trains, and develops a diverse cadre of postdoctoral scholars. The University of New Mexico – a Hispanic and Minority Serving Institution (MSI) – serves as the lead research-intensive institution in partnership with three accredited, teaching intensive, MSIs – Central New Mexico College, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute and New Mexico State University. The ASERT program offers rigorous, interdisciplinary research training with 68 research mentors and co-mentors who have expertise in biomedicine that includes perspectives from biology, biological anthropology, chemistry, computational and physical sciences, biological engineering, learning sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, and social sciences. Importantly, ASERT also affords exceptional training opportunities in education pedagogy and immersive, practical teaching experiences. Central New Mexico College and Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (a national Tribal College) serve minority, lower income, and American Indian undergraduate students, respectively. CNM and SIPI have student centered programming and offer Associate level degrees in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, including physical, environmental and health sciences, among other disciplines. Agreements with 4-year colleges and universities statewide enable fast-track pathways and transfers to combined bachelors and graduate degree programs. New Mexico State University is a land grant R2 research university offering undergraduate and graduate degrees. All partnered institutions have a diverse faculty, value education excellence, inclusion of cultural perspectives, and have deep commitments to developing a diverse workforce founded on justice, equity, diversity, accessibility, and inclusion (JEDAI) principles. In partnership with these three MSIs, fellows can elect to work with education mentors who have undergraduate to graduate level teaching expertise and discipline relevant knowledge. On average 12 fellows constitute a training cohort and are supported in their professional development and advancement of career goals by the ASERT program for up to three years. Formal courses, individual development plans evaluated by faculty mentoring teams, monthly cohort meetings, annual retreats and professional development workshop series contribute to skill building and rigor in science and education. Fourth to fifth years are supported by mentors when beneficial for individual fellow's career goals. Since 2009, 52 ASERT alumni have assumed productive academic research/teaching or private sector biomedical careers in NM, the Southwest Region and the Nation. Annual program evaluation and outcomes assessment is conducted by faculty expert in evaluation and learning sciences. Identified strengths and areas for growth are incorporated into the proposed renewal plan. In sum, the New Mexico ASERT fellowship program has twice hosted the national network meeting in Albuquerque, NM and is a pivotal member of the national IRACDA network affording trainees with unique research, teaching, and role model opportunities.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).