Multi-Institutional Summer Undergraduate Research Program to Promote Diversity and Excellence in Sleep and Circadian Research Careers

ABSTRACT The primary aim of this new multi-institutional summer research, educational, and professional development training program is to prepare undergraduate students from underrepresented populations in the U.S. Biomedical Sciences (UBR trainees) for advanced academic training in PhD and MD/PhD programs; foster their pursuit of sleep and circadian science careers; and to promote a diverse workforce. The proposed training program is unique as it provides UBR trainees mentoring by more than 30 faculty from NIH T32 programs in sleep and circadian science, all of whom conduct research relevant to the mission of the NINDS. The program faculty and advisory board also includes established URB investigators in this area nationally. Participating Institutions include in alphabetical order: Harvard Medical School/Harvard University, Morehouse School of Medicine, Northwestern University/Northwestern School of Medicine, Stanford University/Stanford University School of Medicine, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Michigan, University of Pennsylvania/Perelman School of Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern, and Washington University St. Louis. The program will recruit 60 UBR trainees and provide high quality research, core educational and professional development experiences to prepare them for careers in sleep and circadian science. The multi-institutional effort will provide access to training in all regions across the United States creating a community of expert mentors. The training, research, and mentoring outcomes from this R25 program will foster diversity and inclusivity in the scientific workforce and will contribute important scientific knowledge to our understanding of these critical biological processes.