Bridges to the Baccalaureate Research Training Program at University of Alabama at Birmingham

University Of Alabama At Birmingham, Birmingham AL

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Abstract

Enter the text here that is the new abstract information for your application. For the United States to continue to be the leader in biomedical research, it must develop a workforce that is well trained and eager to join the rapidly expanding enterprise. However, many students lack early engagement and opportunities to develop skills and content knowledge to interest them in these research careers, and thus the students often fail to complete a Bachelor of Science degree (BS) and be interested in biomedical research and careers. For over 10 years Jefferson State Community College (JSCC) and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) have partnered to develop a dynamic program to bridge JSCC students into undergraduate and graduate biomedical and behavioral education and research careers. Our original Bridges to Biomedical Careers grants (BBC) predicted that 75% of students would gain a BS in 5 years or less, 35% would enter a biomedical graduate education program and 35% would enter biomedical careers. Of the 95 students in BBC, 98% have successfully completed or are currently completing a BS in biomedical/behavioral sciences in 5 years or less and 75% are in (or applying for) biomedical and behavioral graduate programs. The remaining 25% are pursuing research careers with a BS. One of the greatest challenges for students in BBC has been their need to work during the school year to pay for their tuition, thus decreasing the time they could devote to their research. The new NIGMS B2B program addresses this challenge by funding students to carry out research throughout two entire years, starting with a summer research internship in their rising sophomore year at JSCC. Bridges-UAB takes advantage of this greater student funding to enhance student success even further. It will include a very rigorous recruitment of freshman students at JSCC, including a research workshop and an introduction to research course and develop other JSCC and UAB partnership biomedical courses. Bridges-UAB will promote closer interactions between JSCC and UAB in research and education and provide students at JSCC and UAB with educational opportunities, internships and mentoring that will immerse them in biomedical and behavioral research and prepare them for research careers. Bridges-UAB will provide scholarships to cover the sophomore and junior years, and UAB plans to cover most senior year costs, thus paving the way for the students to focus on immersing themselves in cutting-edge research. Upper-level students will be encouraged to be peer mentors to newer students, and top Bridges-UAB students will return to present their research at JSCC in the workshop and other courses, encouraging the JSCC students to consider research careers. The Broader Impact will be to expand the biomedical research workforce. The Intellectual Merit will be to identify methods that engage and prepare all students for careers in biomedical research.