The MARC U*STAR Program is designed to provide support for underrepresented minority students who have demonstrated academic promise and are interested in pursuing a doctorate degree in biomedical science or a related field. Eligible students participate in the program during their junior and senior years. Financial support is provided to program participants in the form of partial funding of tuition and fees, stipends, research supplies, and travel to research meetings. MARC trainees participate in a variety of activities designed to help prepare them for rigorous doctoral training programs, including intramural and extramural research, travel to research meetings to present their research, special seminars, a technical writing class, and training in the responsible conduct of research. The MARC U*STAR Program also supports efforts to improve course curricula in the sciences and the pedagogical skills of faculty. Three curriculum development projects are proposed: 1) updating the general chemistry lab sequence, 2) developing a second semester organic chemistry lab for students interested in research careers, and 3) developing a course in numerical methods of analysis and simulation in the Physics Department suitable for all science majors. Faculty involved in the curriculum development projects will be able to attend a conference related to pedagogy in their fields, and will receive support from the Xavier University Center for the Advancement of Teaching with respect to developing learning goals and evaluating outcomes for their curriculum development projects.

Public Health Relevance

Minorities currently represent an expanding portion of the U.S. population, and unless science and technology education becomes more inclusive, our increasingly technological society will soon be denied the talents of a large segment of our population. For example, currently African Americans represent 12% of the US population, but only 3% of the science and technology workforce. To address this issue, the MARC U*STAR Program provides support and rigorous training to underrepresented minority undergraduate students so they can pursue doctorates in biomedical science.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
MARC Undergraduate NRSA Institutional Grants (T34)
Project #
2T34GM007716-34
Application #
8474404
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (TWD)
Program Officer
Gaillard, Shawn R
Project Start
1979-06-01
Project End
2018-05-31
Budget Start
2013-06-01
Budget End
2014-05-31
Support Year
34
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$377,870
Indirect Cost
$19,870
Name
Xavier University of Louisiana
Department
Chemistry
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
020857876
City
New Orleans
State
LA
Country
United States
Zip Code
70125
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