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

Front Public Health. 2024 May 23:12:1395942. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1395942. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Introduction: 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.

Methods: Underrepresented minority and female undergraduate students participated in a mentored research experience in a rural, low-income state.

Results: 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.

Conclusion: This study supports implementation of a biomedical summer undergraduate research program for URM and women in a poor, rural, settings.

Keywords: biomedical research; education; female; medical; mentors; minority groups; surveys and questionnaires; undergraduate.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biomedical Research* / education
  • Career Choice
  • Cultural Diversity
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leadership
  • Male
  • Minority Groups* / statistics & numerical data
  • Poverty*
  • Rural Population* / statistics & numerical data
  • Self Efficacy
  • Students*
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This program received support from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Grant R25HL108825.