Saturday, May 17, 2025
5/17/2025
U-RISE at Kennesaw State - Project Summary/Abstract. Advancement of science is enhanced when researchers have diverse backgrounds, talents, and perspectives to stimulate innovative and creative approaches that address healthcare challenges. The talent, experiences, and participation of students from underrepresented groups have been demonstrated to be starkly low in science, technology, and engineering and are worse at the highest levels of educational training (PhD). This project seeks to establish the U-RISE at Kennesaw State training program to increase the number of underrepresented students entering doctoral programs in the biomedical sciences. Four objectives have been set to achieve this goal: (1) recruit five underrepresented biomedical science undergraduates per year for five years into the U- RISE program; (2) retain at least four U-RISE trainees in biomedical degree programs at KSU for the duration of their training; (3) provide U-RISE students a truly exceptional undergraduate research training, and; (4) facilitate the successful transition of at least three U-RISE students into doctoral programs in the biomedical sciences. Taking advantage of multiple recruitment avenues, a pool of high-achieving students from underrepresented groups will be identified and nurtured. Successful program applicants will display an expressed interest in pursuing a biomedical PhD or MD/PhD. Directed research and enrichment activities are planned for the two-year appointment of each U-RISE trainee. Summer year one will feature training in foundational research skills, responsible conduct, and methods to enhance reproducibility. In parallel, trainees will undergo three 2-week research rotations before matching with their mentor. Throughout the junior and senior academic years, U-RISE trainees will be required to conduct research with faculty mentors, while reinforcing core responsible conduct and reproducibility tenets. Bi-monthly U-RISE seminars will build scientific identity, cohort cohesiveness, and scientific communication. In spring semester year one, trainees will identify one or more labs at an R1 institution to engage in summer research. After matching with their R1 lab, each trainee will spend U-RISE summer two immersed in a 10-week R1 institute research experience. Fall semester year two will require an advanced team research class, in addition to continuing projects with their KSU mentor. Fall bi-monthly seminars will prepare trainees for doctoral program applications, while spring will feature doctoral interview preparation. Trainees will receive peer and faculty mentoring throughout the two-year appointment. An advisory committee will oversee program effectiveness. Using the above measurable objectives, survey instruments will be deployed by an external evaluator to assess mentee training and mentor effectiveness. We will modify our program as needed, based on survey outcomes. Results will be disseminated by our program website, conference proceedings, and journal articles. If we are successful, at least fifteen U-RISE trainees will matriculate into biomedical PhD programs over the five years of the project.
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).