U-RISE at Sacramento State Project Summary
U-RISE at Sacramento State is a continuation of the Sacramento State RISE program designed to
deliver a rich research-training curriculum to increase the number of students from
underrepresented and marginalized groups who enter doctoral degrees in biomedical research.
Since its inception in 2017, Sacramento State RISE trained 32 unduplicated students, where 29
are pursuing biomedical research graduate studies: 15 pursued biomedical PhD programs, 9
pursued biomedical Master’s programs, and 5 work in biotechnology companies.
The proposed U-RISE at Sacramento State aims to develop a diverse and competitive pool of
candidates for admission and successful completion of graduate degrees in biomedical research.
Our goal will be achieved by providing research training activities to cultivate students from
racial and ethnic groups historically excluded from the biomedical research sciences, persons
with disabilities, and first-generation and low-income individuals, who have the talent and desire
to earn doctoral degrees in biomedical research.
U-RISE at Sacramento State will annually serve 8 Trainees selected from the College of Natural
Sciences and Mathematics by offering a rich research training curriculum, graduate school
preparedness workshops, individualized graduate school readiness advising, and preparing
competitive applications for doctoral programs. By the end of the program, Trainees will (1)
develop a firm understanding of the principles of responsible conduct of research; (2) have a
supportive, inclusive experience in a research setting to understand the skills of designing,
conducting and presenting rigorous research, and (3) build their identity as a biomedical
researcher. U-RISE at Sacramento State will conduct a non-linear program in which all students
(from second-years, to transfers, to incoming seniors) have equal opportunities to participate in
year-round hands-on research at Sacramento State or the nearby UC Davis campus and become
competitive for admission and successful completion of doctoral programs in the biomedical
research fields.