A Student-Centered, Entrepreneurship Development (ASCEND) Undergraduate Summer Research Program: Foundational...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Sciences
• STEM Education Research

Background:

• Increasing participation of underrepresented minority (URM) students in science is crucial for equitable research.
• Undergraduate research programs are vital for URM student retention and career entry into STEM.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate an innovative Summer Research Institute (SRI) as an entry point into a National Institutes of Health (NIH) research training program.
• To assess the impact of SRI on students' science self-efficacy, science identity, academic adjustment, and sense of belonging.

Main Methods:

• An 8-week, student-centered, course-based research model where students choose their own topics.
• Analysis of data from four training cohorts over four consecutive summers.
• Assessment of science self-efficacy, science identity, academic adjustment, and sense of belonging.

Main Results:

• Significant gains in science self-efficacy and science identity were observed post-SRI training.
• Participants showed improved academic adjustment and a greater sense of belonging.
• SRI participants demonstrated substantially improved retention in science majors and higher graduation rates.

Conclusions:

• The SRI effectively enhances key psychological and academic constructs for URM students.
• This program serves as a successful pathway for URM students into sustained STEM engagement and careers.
• The student-centered, autonomy-driven model is a valuable approach for diversity in the scientific workforce.