Program Summary/Abstract
The purpose of the proposed IMSD Program at the University of Texas at San Antonio is to recruit and train a diverse group
of doctoral students in the biomedical and behavioral (collectively termed biomedical) sciences from underrepresented
groups (UR). The program will develop and implement evidence-based approaches upon foundations of the UTSA RISE
program and enhance our trainees' recruitment, retention; depth of professional, operational, and technical Training; and
career path trajectory. The program will promote UR students' recruitment and admission, retention, and mentoring
support during their doctoral studies that guide them towards biomedical careers. It will support trainees in the Biomedical
Engineering, Chemistry, Neuroscience, Cell, and Molecular Biology, Physics, and Psychology Ph.D. programs. Eight new
Ph.D. students will be inducted annually and mentored for three years; 56 students are expected to receive Training over
the five years of the program. The proposed interventions will enhance UR admission to 40%, promote 85% retention of
its trainees and reduce time-to-degree from 4.8 to 4.6 years. Training focusing on Psychosocial Wellness, Mentoring,
Career Development, and Instruction in Methods for Enhancing Reproducibility are integrated throughout the training
cycle. The IMSD program has key features that make it innovative. IMSD Training is stage-dependent, with sessions each
summer designed to focus trainees' attention on critical milestones of the following year; some training will be provided
earlier to Psychology students who are in a 3-year program. It leverages institutional resources, with partnerships in place
for trainees to receive Training from the UTSA Career Center, Leadership and Volunteer Services and Wellbeing Services,
the UTSA Office of Research Integrity, and Graduate School. IMSD Training is progressive. Training begins with
foundational topics designed to "level the playing field" and provide foundations for all subsequent Training. IMSD
attempts to minimize trainee time commitment in the fall and spring semesters. All multi-session workshops will be taught
in the summer, except first-semester foundational Training. Academic year training and presentations are associated with
the multi-focus Weekly Group Sessions that incorporate Psychosocial Training, Alumni and Role Model Scientist Visits,
introductory Training in Budgeting, Leadership, Clifton StrengthsFinder, and College-Level Teaching. Mentoring is a
significant component of the IMSD, involving being mentored by other scientists at diverse career stages and fields.
Trainees will have multiple opportunities to practice their scientific communication skills in progressively rigorous
environments. These include poster, oral, and Three Minute Thesis presentations.