# Cornell Initiative for Maximizing Student Development

> **NIH NIH R25** · CORNELL UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $60,534

## Abstract

Project Summary / Abstract
This is a request for supplemental funding to develop a novel short course that focuses on Ideation. The
Cornell IMSD aims to increase the number of both underrepresented minority students and disabled students,
in biological and biomedical science graduate programs at Cornell, while also preparing them for successful
future careers. Over the past 2 years of the programs’ existence, we have realized that students are seeking
opportunities to move from undergraduate focused learning to graduate focused creativity. In particular, they
are interested in the process of “ideation”, a creative process of generating, developing, and communicating
new ideas. In addition, our students are interested in how they can continue to build on Cornell’s efforts to
promote an inclusive research environment. Utilizing key elements of design thinking applied to STEM
Understanding the human
needs involved); Re-framing and defining the problem in human-centric ways); I Creating many
ideas in ideation sessions), Prototype ( Adopting a hands-on approach in prototyping) and T
Developing a prototype/solution to the problem).
research, we will provide Cornell-IMSD Scholars with the tools to: Empathize (
 Design ( deate (
est & Implement
( This novel interactive short course will be conducted over the
summer (8 weeks, with follow up through the academic year) to comprehensively address all aspects of
ideation. In order to challenge the students and the process Cornell IMSD scholars will be split into two teams
that will work on the same research topic related to diversity and inclusion that is of relevance to biomedical
science research, infrastructure, and accessibility. This course will provide Scholars with the tools to identify
new ways to of enhancing diversity and inclusion in biomedical science research, infrastructure, and
accessibility. At the same time, they will learn how to apply their current or future research to solve real-life
challenges, while also embracing failure as a learning and growth experience from which to build. At the end of
the course, Scholars will be able to foster collaborative research community-building, innovation, and
intellectual innovation in emerging thematic spaces; encourage bold and disruptive research thinking across
disciplines and develop roadmaps for future research design and implications, proposal development and
submission.
PHS 398/2590 (Rev. 09/04) Page 2 Continuation Format Page

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10146095
- **Project number:** 3R25GM125597-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** CORNELL UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Avery August
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $60,534
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-05-01 → 2021-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10146095

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10146095, Cornell Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (3R25GM125597-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10146095. Licensed CC0.

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