# U-RISE at Claflin University through Collaborative Interdisciplinary Mentoring in Biomedical Sciences

> **NIH NIH T34** · CLAFLIN UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $358,429

## Abstract

7. Project Summary/Abstract
Located in Orangeburg, South Carolina, Claflin University (CU), an independent, four-year, co-educational,
residential, career-oriented liberal arts university, is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Founded in
1869, CU is the oldest historically black college/university (HBCU) in South Carolina. Over 90% of the student
body is African American and 39% are first generation college students, making CU a vital part of local, regional,
and national efforts to recruit minority and female students into advanced degrees and research-oriented careers
in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. Our commitment to train future
scientists and engineers through hands-on, research pursuits under the direct mentorship of active science and
engineering faculty has emerged as our primary pedagogic paradigm. All students in Claflin’s School of Natural
Sciences and Mathematics (SNSM) are required to participate in research that culminates in a senior research
thesis or research proposal. The proposed Undergraduate-Research Initiative for Student Enhancement (U-
RISE) targets interdisciplinary research with 18 U-RISE Trainees, recruited, selected, and retained using a
holistic approach, under the supervision of 15 researchers at CU and in collaboration with biomedical researchers
in research-intensive environments focusing on National Institutes of Health Training Programs over a five-year
period. Projects will be conducted in various laboratories (Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics-Computer Science
and Engineering) in SNSM, with selected projects integrated with community-based participatory public health
research to address pertinent health disparities in collaboration with the School of Humanities and external
research collaborators. Faculty mentors will complete required training activities that include topics of Diversity
Training and Cultural Sensitivity. Trainees will complete required courses, Introduction to Research and
Research Ethics, and participate in weekly sessions to include journal clubs, Responsible Conduct of Research,
CITI modules, writing modules, and cultural sensitivity modules, Graduate Record Exam Preparation,
application for internships, application for graduate school, oral and poster preparation and practice, manuscript
preparation, and interview skills. Moreover, team building sessions throughout the program, from orientation
to graduation, will provide a supportive environment. Students’ preparation, enthusiasm, and self-confidence
will enhance career development with an increased number of underrepresented students entering and
completing Ph.D. programs in biomedical-focused areas. As a result, we aim to place 33% of trainees (2
graduating trainees) into Ph.D. programs yearly after the third year, 6 at the end of 5 years, within 3 years of
graduation, building upon strategic plans for recruitment, selection, and retention as well as upon
implementation of efficient tracking...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10377432
- **Project number:** 5T34GM136495-02
- **Recipient organization:** CLAFLIN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Samina Noorali Assanie-Shivji
- **Activity code:** T34 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $358,429
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-04-01 → 2026-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10377432

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10377432, U-RISE at Claflin University through Collaborative Interdisciplinary Mentoring in Biomedical Sciences (5T34GM136495-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10377432. Licensed CC0.

---

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