U-RISE at Sam Houston State University - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Underrepresentation of researchers from marginalized groups (racial, ethnic, disability, gender, economic, and geographic groups) is noteworthy in the United States impacting biomedical research. This happens due to (1) financial limitations preventing completion of training, (2) a lack of mentorship, (3) inadequate preparation due to systemic inequities, (4) a lack of awareness about conduct of research and research careers, and (5) a lack of STEM identity and sense of belonging that are critically important for retention. Our team from Sam Houston State University (SHSU) will address these challenges by implementing a robust Science Trainees Advancing Through Research and Scholarship (STARS) program for the students underrepresented in the biomedical sciences (UBS). We will leverage our infrastructure and experience in social mobility, student engagement, and research capacity building to increase matriculation in UBS groups leading to enrollment in the PhD programs. The overall mission of the STARS program is to provide a unique training experience to UBS students by accomplishing three aims. First, we will implement the multipronged STARS program for preparing underrepresented undergraduate students for biomedical PhD programs targeting 90% of the trainees graduating within 6 years and 66% admitted into a PhD or MD/PhD program within 2 years of graduation. Second, we will improve the mentoring environment at SHSU through professional training and supervision of research projects involving UBS students. Third, the program will benefit STARS trainees and other students on campus by exposing them to and preparing them for an array of biomedical careers through seminars, internal and external laboratory rotations, and a cluster of training activities necessary for PhD admission. Recruitment activities will provide information at university-wide events for the STARS program and provide first-year students with guides to accessing undergraduate research. The STARS program is innovative since the trainees will receive strong financial and mentoring support in addition to opportunities to participate in rigorous programs of research, academic enhancements, skill development, and career training. The 3-year program will encompass two highly-effective summer research opportunities – one external exposure in one of three outstanding research-intensive partner programs and a second internal summer experience focusing on interdisciplinary research training outside of their primary major. The trainees will have the flexibility to select one of the three training programs (1) a formal training program in bioinformatics, computational biology, and machine learning, (2) mentored translational research experience with one of our College of Osteopathic Medicine faculty, or (3) mentored research in another program mentor’s lab in one of the following areas – molecular and developmental biology, microbiology biochemistry, genetics, toxicology, epidemiology, or nutrition. To ensure a high-quality STARS program, trainees and their mentors will be continually and systematically assessed by an evaluation expert to accomplish the goals and be responsive to formative evaluations to modify program activities, if needed.
