Anatomy in Cuvier's Paris: Broadening participation through an international research program for historically...

Most research programs recruit students with high grades, previous lab experience, and strong supervisor recommendations. However, these requirements can bar students from historically marginalized backgrounds from gaining these kinds of valuable experiences, thus contributing to the well documented limited diversity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). To address this issue, we recruited three cohorts of undergraduate students from institutions with few research resources, regardless of academic success and previous research experience, to participate in an intensive, international research program. Therefore, participants in this study (N = 18, M_age = 21.11) are predominantly from backgrounds considered to be underrepresented in STEM based on their self-described gender identity (66.7% female, 5.6% non-binary/not sure), race/ethnicity (16.7% Black, 22.2% Latina/o/e/x, 22.2% Multiracial), ability (33% disabled or neurodivergent), and/or socioeconomic status (44.5% lower- or middle-class). Survey data were collected before and after students participated in the international program to explore changes in their science identity, research self-efficacy, and STEM career interests. Even with a small sample, the program significantly impacted the overall sample. Participants demonstrated enhanced science identity. Furthermore, the program influenced students' STEM career interests. Although some students leaned away from research trajectories after participating in the research program, most increased research interests. These results affirm that a program designed to give research experience to historically marginalized students can benefit their science identity and career trajectories. The implications of such programming could broaden participation in our academic field.