The United States (US) science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce has been a world leader in biomedical research for decades, and in the 21st century the US took the lead in sequencing the human genome. The STEM workforce has also faced the challenge of increasing participation of under-represented (UR) populations to remain competitive in science and engineering. The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) had the foresight from the outset of the Human Genome Project to include training (Diversity Action Plan-DAP) that would address this shortage as the field developed. In spite of many national interventions, several minority groups remain underrepresented at all degree and professional career levels.1-2 For example, of the 76,447 doctorate degrees awarded in the biological sciences in 2012, only 3,677 (4.8%) were African Americans, 4,463 (5.8%) were Hispanics, and 314 (0.41%) were Native Americans. 1 Therefore, the development of intervention programs seeking to ameliorate these disparities within science research become important and necessary. The long term goal of this proposal is to increase UR PhDs in genomics and bioinformatics. We will approach this goal in two specific aims.
Aim 1 will provide six undergraduate and 8 post-baccalaureate students DI training activities that result in 75% completing the program with greater genomics/bioinformatics knowledge and lab-based critical thinking skills appropriate for success in graduate school. Although the number of UR PhDs is low in biomedical research, in the field of bioinformatics there is a shortage of US trained scientists in this area and the UR groups are even more severely limited in this new field.
Aim 2 plans to recruit and retain 50% of DI trainees as graduate students in the Molecular and Human Genetics Department at Baylor College of Medicine. The African American applicant pool is lowest among all under-represented groups that apply to the MHG department. We will address these aims, using research training as our foundation, in the HGSC-DI summer research internship and Post-baccalaureate programs. Our program data indicates the following DI results: 72% of our post-baccalaureate students enter PhD programs; 100% of pre-doctoral alumni are retained in PhD programs; and 100% of the summer interns obtain bachelor's degrees. We have proven ability to recruit and retain students in STEM. The overall impact of this proposal will increase the number of UR PhDs in genomics and trained in bioinformatics.
The Human Genome Sequencing Center at Baylor College of Medicine is a leader in sequencing and analyzing human diseases to understand genetic variation and increasing diversity in STEM PhDs. We propose to combine research training with specific educational activities (including bioinformatics) for UR students to become more competitive for graduate school acceptance and more likely to complete the doctorate. We have proven ability to recruit and retain students in STEM which impacts nationally the students who enter and earn PhDs in fields that will improve human health.
