Project Strengthen: An STEMM-focused career development workshop to prepare underrepresented minority students for graduate school

Taylor Barongan; Kit Neikirk; Bryanna Shao; Neng Vue; Elsie C Spencer; Kinutha Kabugi; Zachary Conley; Larry Vang; Mein Vue; Nancy Vang; Edgar Garza-Lopez; Amber Crabtree; Stefanie Alexander; Angyth Dal; Heather K Beasley; Andrea G Marshall; Mason Killion; Dominique C Stephens; Denise Martinez; Caroline B Palavicino-Maggio; Felysha Jenkins; Jamaine Davis; Steven M Damo; Christina N Morra; Sandra A Murray; Chia Vang; Derrick J Morton; Zer Vue; Haysetta Shuler; Antentor Hinton Jr

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2023.107766

Project Strengthen: An STEMM-focused career development workshop to prepare underrepresented minority students for graduate school

iScience. 2023 Aug 29;26(10):107766. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107766. eCollection 2023 Oct 20.

Authors

Taylor Barongan¹, Kit Neikirk¹, Bryanna Shao¹, Neng Vue¹, Elsie C Spencer^{1

2}, Kinutha Kabugi¹, Zachary Conley³, Larry Vang¹, Mein Vue¹, Nancy Vang¹, Edgar Garza-Lopez⁴, Amber Crabtree¹, Stefanie Alexander¹, Angyth Dal¹, Heather K Beasley¹, Andrea G Marshall¹, Mason Killion¹, Dominique C Stephens^{1

5}, Denise Martinez⁶, Caroline B Palavicino-Maggio⁷, Felysha Jenkins⁸, Jamaine Davis⁹, Steven M Damo⁵, Christina N Morra¹⁰, Sandra A Murray¹¹, Chia Vang^{1

12}, Derrick J Morton^{13

14}, Zer Vue¹, Haysetta Shuler¹⁵, Antentor Hinton Jr¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University; Nashville, TN, USA.
² Teachers College, Columbia University; New York, NY, USA.
³ Collaborative for STEM Education and Outreach, Department of Teaching and Learning, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
⁴ Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
⁵ Department of Life and Physical Sciences, Fisk University, Nashville, TN, USA.
⁶ Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA.
⁷ McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
⁸ Department of Basic Sciences, Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Vanderbilt School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA.
⁹ Department of Biochemistry, Cancer Biology, Neuroscience, and Pharmacology, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN, USA.
¹⁰ Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
¹¹ Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
¹² Counseling Department, New Highlands University, Las Vegas, NM, USA.
¹³ Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, Department of Biomedical Science, Pasadena, CA, USA.
¹⁴ Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
¹⁵ Department of Biological Sciences, Winston-Salem State University; Winston-Salem, NC, USA.

Abstract

Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) programs are aimed to increase diversity in science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine (STEMM) fields. However, limited programs and eligibility requirements limit the students who may apply to similar programs. At Winston-Salem State University, we piloted a series of workshops, collectively termed Project Strengthen, to emulate some of the key aspects of MARC programs. Following the workshop, Project Strengthen students showed a significant increase in their understanding of essential educational development skills, such as writing personal statements, applying to graduate school, studying for the GRE, and seeking summer internships. This suggests Project Strengthen may be a potential lower cost comparable option than MARC to make up for current deficiencies in preparedness for graduate school. We also provide educational materials from Project Strengthen, including a clear framework for this seminar series, six ready-made PowerPoints to share with trainees that have been demonstrated to be effective.

Keywords: Education; Social sciences.

Abstract

Grants and funding