The University of Texas at El Paso will establish a Research Careers for Minority Scholars program to seek and nurture minority students and guide them into careers in research in science or engineering. RCMS scholars will be selected from current University undergraduate students (initially) and from senior-level high school students in the region. Each student will join an ongoing research program of his or her own choosing. Faculty members in five science and engineering departments will serve as mentors to RCMS scholars. Students will also participate in reserach seminars and various outreach activities and receive monthly stipends, travel support, tuition, and fees. RCMS scholars will be expected to disseminate their research results through publications and presentations at scientific meetings, and to use a topic related to their ongoing research program as the basis for an undergraduate honors thesis or master's thesis.