Summer undergraduate biomedical research program for underrepresented minority students in a rural, low-income state

• Published in: Frontiers in public health Vol. 12; p. 1395942
• Main Authors: Anders, Michael E, Prince, Latrina Y, Williams, Tremaine B, McGehee, Jr, Robert E, Thomas, Billy R, Allen, Antino R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 23-05-2024
• Subjects: Adult; biomedical research; Biomedical Research - education; Career Choice; Cultural Diversity; education; Female; Humans; Leadership; Male; medical; minority groups; Minority Groups - statistics & numerical data; Poverty; Public Health; Rural Population - statistics & numerical data; Self Efficacy; Students; undergraduate; Young Adult; medical; education; mentors; female; surveys and questionnaires; undergraduate; biomedical research; minority groups
• ISSN: 2296-2565; 2296-2565
• DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1395942

Diversity can enhance the agenda and quality of biomedical research, but a dearth of underrepresented minorities and women serve as biomedical researchers. The study purpose was to examine the impact of the a summer undergraduate research program on self-efficacy in research, scientific communication, and leadership as well as scientific identity, valuing objectives of the scientific community, and intent to pursue a biomedical research career.
Underrepresented minority and female undergraduate students participated in a mentored research experience in a rural, low-income state.
Students' self-efficacy in research, scientific communication, and leadership as well as scientific identity, valuing objectives of the scientific community, and intent to pursue a biomedical research career increased post-program compared to pre-program.
This study supports implementation of a biomedical summer undergraduate research program for URM and women in a poor, rural, settings.