Building a Diverse Network to Support and Build Pathways for Historically Underrepresented Students in Quantitative-Focused Research Areas Within the All of Us Research Program

New York University, New York NY

Investigators

Abstract

Abstract The overarching objective of this proposal is to increase the quantitative and data management capabilities of underrepresented minority (URM) undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty by providing quantitative research methods training and handson analysis and programming experience with the All of Us Researcher Workbench. Our team has extensive experience in engaging and training URM researchers to work with the All of Us Research Program. Our goal is to utilize the Social-Ecological Researcher Engagement Framework to build upon our existing and proven successful engagement strategies in addition to implementing novel approaches to engage and train URM students (at various career stages) on advanced quantitative and programming skills using the All of Us Research Program. This proposal incorporates four evidence-based approaches for increasing access to high-quality, large-scale data, promoting quantitative and data management capabilities among URM undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty through research training and hands-on experience with the All of Us Researcher Workbench. These approaches include: (a) collaboration with institutions across the US that will enable the integration of knowledge, resources, and training as well as increased awareness to the All of Us Researcher Workbench; (b) training in highly relevant and deployable quantitative and data science skills for underrepresented students and postdoctoral fellows; (c) strengthening the quantitative expertise of postdoctoral fellows and early- to mid-career faculty members of underrepresented backgrounds; and (d) provision of ongoing technical assistance including statistical guidance, webinars, and individual project support to collaborative institutions to facilitate accessibility and usability of the All of Us Researcher Workbench. This program is critical to the development of the quantitatively inclined public health workforce on multiple levels (e.g., undergraduate students, early career faculty, etc.). These engagement activity have the potential to influence long term change in the landscape of public health scholars by making a more diverse and equitable workforce that sphere head important innovations in the field.