IRACDA at Texas A&M University

Enter the text here that is the new abstract information for your application. PROJECT SUMMARY IRACDA@TAMU is a partnership between Texas A&M University (TAMU), a research-intensive R1 university, and Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU), a predominantly undergraduate education-focused, teaching-intensive institution that recently achieved R2 status. By adopting community-based mentoring models that were pioneered by PVAMU, TAMU and PVAMU faculty are positioned to expand the biomedical workforce by developing a Research-Intensive Community model as an alternative to the traditional 1-on-1 mentoring model. Leveraging the sustainability of multilevel mentoring and the productivity of undergraduate research teams with varying scientific competency, this model fully integrates research, education, and leadership to train participants, produce research, and transform institutions. We will pursue four objectives to form a unique postdoctoral training program: 1) Prepare Scholars to initiate a research program and develop technical and operational skills by working with faculty research mentors. In Year 1, Scholars, guided by both research and instruction mentors, observe PVAMU classes and work in TAMU labs to lay the foundation for an adaptable research program that can be deployed in both research- and teaching-intensive institutions. 2) Prepare Scholars to sustain a research program that integrates high-impact teaching practices into the lab by leading undergraduate research teams. In Year 2, Scholars join the IRACDA Research Leadership Program and learn to amplify their research productivity by effectively leading undergraduate research teams with varying levels of competency. 3) Prepare Scholars to sustain a teaching program that integrates research projects into the classroom by teaching course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs). In Year 3, Scholars continue in the IRACDA Research Leadership Program and learn to establish CUREs at PVAMU that sustain their research and expand research capacity of their instruction mentors. 4) Prepare Scholars to establish and direct research education programs that cultivate supportive research-intensive communities. In Year 4, Scholars join the IRACDA Directors Program and learn to direct scalable research leadership programs that bridge institutions. By the end of the grant period, 10 IRACDA Scholars will have gained the technical, operational, and professional skills to become independent academics that develop sustainable research platforms at either research- or teaching-intensive institutions. They will have become highly sought-after change agents that create sustainable research education programs and research-intensive communities bridging research-intensive and teaching-intensive universities. PVAMU will have increased research capacity by establishing the multilevel Panther Research Program and the first undergraduate Biomedical Research Certificate of its kind. IRACDA@TAMU will support program alumni and scholars in other IRACDA programs as this adaptable, sustainable, and scalable model is propagated to other partners.