STEMM opportunities for college students with Hearing loss to Engage in Auditory Research (STEMM-HEAR - SUMMARY People with hearing loss represent one of the largest disability groups in society. Hearing loss extends across all ethnic and socioeconomic groups, and covers two broad spectra: first, the degree of loss, ranging from hard of hearing (correctable with hearing aids) to profound (which often can be mitigated with cochlear implants); and second, etiology which can be congenital, progressive, late-onset or acquired. Each of these can affect the extent of the challenges faced by people with hearing loss, but any hearing loss negatively affects communication – and therefore socialization - to some degree. Significant technological advances over the past 20 years have greatly improved the capacity of people with hearing loss to listen and speak; improved hearing increases information received and, with training, children with hearing loss can learn to listen, speak and participate in mainstream activities. However, students with hearing loss at mainstream public schools and colleges still struggle with reduced access to auditory information and deal with the societal challenges of isolation, ignorance and invisibility. In spite of these barriers, there are individuals with hearing loss who have succeeded in executive and professorial careers in STEMM, particularly in auditory sciences. In this R25 proposal, Johns Hopkins University (JHU) will implement a multi-institutional distributed mentoring model called STEMM-HEAR. The successful development of this model will be a template for other university programs to recruit underrepresented minorities (URM), particularly those with disabilities, and guide research leaders in providing an encouraging and supportive internship experience to promote greater diversity in STEMM. By acquiring research experiences with mentors who are auditory scientists with hearing loss, 32-52 students with hearing loss will develop improved social and emotional capabilities needed to maximize their potential in STEMM. The model will accelerate the recruitment of students with hearing loss into careers in STEMM, including the hearing sciences. JHU will work with the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Hearing Loss Association of America to recruit 8-12 trainees annually to work in hearing sciences laboratories at Oregon Health & Science University, University of Southern California, Creighton University, Rice University and later at Stanford University and University of Minnesota. By participating in summer internship programs at these institutions, these students will acquire and share research experiences via a peer network mentoring program within a community of scientists and engineers with hearing loss.
