The University of Puerto Rico will establish a Research Careers Program for Minority Scholars to provide opportunities for undergraduate research training in the fields of physical science, mathematics, and engineering in which Hispanics are notably underrepresented. The program will have a significant impact in increasing the number of minority students who choose to pursue graduate studies and careers in these fields. The UPR-RCMS Program will create an academically enriched environment by providing: intensive research experiences for students with researchers from EPSCoR and MRCE Programs, who will work closely with them as mentors and role models; special seminars and colloquia to expose trainees to invited minority minority scientists with whom they will discuss their research projects; participation in local and national scientific research meetings in which they will be encouraged to make presentations; a language skills tutorial for improving the oral and written presentation of their research; and an orientation program to assist them in identifying and entering graduate programs, obtaining financial support for graduate studies, and selecting careers in science, mathematics, and engineering. Twenty-four talented students will participate each year during a five-year period. As part of their research training, the eight most outstanding students will travel to national research laboratories for further training each year. Students will be required, as a result of their participation in the RCMS Program, to prepare a thesis or co-author a publication in a scientific journal. Participants will be tracked through graduate studies to determine the success of the program in preparing competent minority scientists.
