# MARC Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research at Queens College

> **NIH NIH T34** · QUEENS COLLEGE · 2021 · $354,765

## Abstract

The goal of this proposal is to continue to implement the successful MARC-USTAR program at Queens
College (QC) and further increase the number of students entering and completing a PhD program in STEM
fields, and pursuing a research career. The program will continue to prepare students to formulate questions
and generate creative ideas, to collaborate with others, to engage in productive research, and to understand
how research is conducted and how it leads to improvements in health and scientific comprehension and
cooperation across different disciplines. Toward this aim the program has achieved the goals it set from the
beginning of the second grant in 2009, graduating 100% of MARC students with honors; 84 % of MARC
students have continued to a higher degree, with 77% going directly into doctoral programs; publishing 10
student-authored papers; and developing programs that have inspired the College and led it to incorporate
the program's innovations into College-wide programs. The MARC students at Queens College have won
several prizes and been accepted into prestigious institutions. The program has nevertheless identified
remaining weaknesses in the preparation and growth of its students. The rationale of the proposal is to
continue the program's successful mentoring and heavy research involvement, while at the same time
addressing the weaknesses, primarily students' doubt in the practicality of a research career path and lack
of understanding of the overall expectations for researchers. The program implemented changes that were
instrumental to its success in increasing the number of students entering doctoral programs and aims to
continue with these practices. Continued improvement of program performance includes: first, expanding
mentoring to include more facets of a research career to emphasize the many possibilities for a doctoral-
level researcher; second, expanding outreach to the families of the students and more aggressively
involving them in the highlights and ceremonies of the MARC experience; and third, initiating a “talk across
disciplines” discussion series in which students will learn how their research relates to questions from other
disciplines, while in the process creating a more cohesive atmosphere and preparing the students for future
flexibility. The program will also increase writing and presentation workshops, introduce a research
seminar series on Translational Research and one on Careers in Research, and make other adjustments as
suggested by formal and informal feedback from our students and faculty. The administration at Queens
College is pleased with the program's progress and is eager to see the program expand. The proposed
program is designed for 5 years, with 12 trainees per year (approximately 6 juniors and 6 seniors each
year) for duration of 2 years for each trainee.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10149332
- **Project number:** 5T34GM070387-18
- **Recipient organization:** QUEENS COLLEGE
- **Principal Investigator:** ZAHRA ZAKERI
- **Activity code:** T34 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $354,765
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2004-06-01 → 2022-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10149332

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10149332, MARC Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research at Queens College (5T34GM070387-18). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10149332. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*