Undergraduate Discovery Science Experience in Renal Biology and Disease

There is a critical need to increase the recruitment of a workforce and develop next-generation scientists who can conduct research in areas relevant to the NIH mission, particularly that of the NIDDK. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers are the fastest-growing occupation in the United States, with around 70% of jobs requiring a post-secondary degree with STEM comprehension. Yet less than 20% of college graduates earn degrees in a STEM-related field, the initial step in accessing a research career. To address this shortfall, we developed a holistic training program titled “Aspirnaut™ K-20 STEM Pipeline” at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC). Since the inception of the program in 2009, 171 undergraduate students from 28 states have matriculated into the pipeline. Notably,146 undergraduates have graduated college, and 90% of these students entered advanced degrees in STEM or directly entered the STEM workforce. In this project, we will leverage our success over 16 summers with the Aspirnaut training pipeline. In Aim 1, we will engage undergraduate students in discovery science experience on the topic of “Renal Biology and Disease”. In Aims 2 and 3, we will augment the discovery science experience with professional skills development and wellness training. Additionally, we will implement several innovations, piloted over the previous funding cycle, to perfect a holistic model of the training pipeline. These include science communication, Kidney 101, and a comprehensive wellness program. The anticipated outcomes will increase the number of undergraduates entering STEM disciplines of relevance to the NIDDK mission.