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Pairing of a Major Research University and an HBCU Institution to Promote Minority Student Access to Careers in Cancer Research
Author(s) -
Heidger P.,
Lubaroff D.,
Baskerville K.,
Swinton D.,
Morman D.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.29.1_supplement.687.32
Subject(s) - medical education , undergraduate research , institution , graduate students , underrepresented minority , psychology , political science , library science , medicine , computer science , law
To address the underrepresentation of minority biomedical research scientists in the United States, The University of Iowa (UI) and Lincoln University have partnered since 2006 in sponsoring a summer research training program at Iowa for Lincoln undergraduates that focuses upon mentored bench‐level research in cancer cell biology, particularly prostate cancer. Through a joint Lincoln/Iowa admission's process, 8 outstanding students are selected annually to participate in the 8‐week program. Each student is mentored by an Iowa faculty advisor as well as by a senior peer chosen from among the graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in the host lab. Fundamentals of cancer biology are introduced in weekly content lectures and seminars, in tandem with career counseling and opportunities to explore graduate and professional programs at the UI. A faculty steering committee closely monitors student progress, and social and academic interactions are fostered with fellow students in other UI summer programs. At the conclusion of the program, students make oral and poster presentations of their research to peers and program faculty, as well as present posters at a University‐wide celebration of undergraduate research sponsored by the Graduate College. Students also present their research at Lincoln's Fall Science Fair, and several have been invited to present at national meetings. Of the 40 participants who have now graduated from Lincoln, 85% are in postgraduate training or working in scientific fields, a highly positive indication of program success. Supported by US DOD RTP Grants W91XWH‐12‐1‐0117, W81XWH‐13‐1‐0178 and UI Minority Access Funds