Friday, May 9, 2025
5/9/2025
LSU ESTEEMED - LSU ESTEEMED Scholars Project Summary The proposed ESTEEMED Scholars Program at Louisiana State University (LSU) will ensure the training of underrepresented (UR) minority, low-income, and disabled undergraduates for research careers and leadership positions in the biomedical /bioengineering related disciplines. LSU has emerged as a national model for advancing and promoting inclusion, equity, and diversity and improving the success rates of underrepresented students. We are ranked in the top 40 of baccalaureate-origin institutions (2007-2016) producing Black PhDs in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), and top 50 of baccalaureate-origin institutions producing Black PhDs in engineering. The design of our proposed ESTEEMED program is based on evidence-based practices, previous experiences, which have contributed to these outcomes, and guidance from nationally renowned faculty. In fact, five faculty at LSU, including the PI and the chair of the Advisory Committee, are recipients of Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM). The long-term goal of the LSU ESTEEMED program is to increase the number of UR racial and ethnic minorities and persons with disabilities who are recruited as honors students into LSU, trained in biomedical/bioengineering-related research, and who enter into biomedical/bioengineering focused Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. programs. To accomplish this goal, the LSU ESTEEEMED Scholars program will provide valuable research training and career and curriculum development for three (3) cohorts of six (6) undergraduate scholars each through their first- and second- years of undergraduate study. The four- year project will directly impact 18 total students. The four guiding objectives of the LSU ESTEEMED program are: (1) Recruit three cohorts of six highly qualified UR entering freshmen as LSU ESTEEMED Scholars; (2) Provide 100% of Scholars with high-impact biomedical science / bioengineering training opportunities; (3) Retain at least 80% of Scholars through the first two years and prepare for competitive transfer into an honors program; and (4) Develop and sustain a collaborative ecosystem to support biomedical science and bioengineering mentoring of ESTEEMED Scholars. Our proposed innovative strategies include expanded bioengineering and computational/data science research opportunities at LSU laboratories and local research-intensive facilities, research skills training, impactful mentoring training for scholars and their faculty and graduate student mentors, field trips/site visits, outreach activities, and best practices. The proposed ESTEEMED program activities are expected to have high impact at LSU and maximize the benefits for its scholars, research mentors, and the community.
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).