Learning and Achievement in Biomedical Sciences - Enter the text here that is the new abstract information for your application. This section must be no longer than 30 lines of text. The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Campus (OUHSC) is the primary hub for interdisciplinary biomedical research within the state. Oklahoma is afflicted with high rates of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, and is ranked among the lowest as a state in overall health and public education. With these troubling statistics, OUHSC must develop creative solutions to combat these problems. As part of the OUHSC Research Strategic Plan, we aim to address these problems by increasing the number of graduate students in biomedical sciences. In conjunction with admitting more students, improved training mechanisms are being implemented as part of this proposal to promote more well-rounded scientific training, bolster scientific communication, improve resilience, and minimize attrition. Importantly, over 40% of OUHSC PhD graduates continue their careers in Oklahoma. The Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences (GPiBS) is the first-year umbrella program serving as the primary entry point for basic science doctoral students at OUHSC. Along with a rigorous interdisciplinary curriculum, students carry out up to six laboratory rotations in order to identify a suitable mentor and research project. The Training Program proposed here begins with activities during the GPiBS year with a plan to modernize curriculum, train mentors, create a peer support network, and facilitate knowledge retention and critical thinking skills required to earn a doctoral degree. Furthermore, as mentoring plays a pivotal role in the success of graduate students, our program will take a hands-on approach to identifying appropriate mentors for each trainee. Forty experienced mentors are part of this Program and are expected to have a positive record in training students and participate in mentor training. During the second year, students are tasked with designing a novel research proposal for their dissertation project. The Training Program will continue to aid in proposal development through direct engagement with mentors and our near-peer mentoring system. In year three and later, although trainees will no longer be financially supported by the Training Program, they will be involved in activities to help fine-tune their science communication skills, improve knowledge retention, and bolster self-confidence through teaching opportunities and career and professional development workshops. Stipend support is requested for five first-year trainees in the first year of this Program; subsequent years will include first- and second-year trainees for a total of ten trainees per year. We anticipate this Training Program will have a positive impact on STEM education and the health-related problems encountered in Oklahoma. Modified Narrative The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC) recognizes that graduate students are the driving force behind the University’s research mission, and is therefore committed to expanding research opportunities for the success of these students. This Training Program will use proven and innovative approaches to further enhance the success, retention, and well-being of all students in OUHSC biomedical doctoral programs. This, in turn, will bolster the scientific environment in Oklahoma, and help the state address its significant health challenges.
