# UPR-Humacao MARC U-STAR Program Supplement

> **NIH NIH T34** · UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO AT HUMACAO · 2021 · $52,964

## Abstract

PROJECT ABSTRACT
 This supplement will allow the continuation for an additional year, of MARC U-STAR trainees currently
appointed. The main long-term goal of the UPRH MARC U-STAR Program is to increase the pool of talented
minority undergraduates with the required academic preparation and research experience to be competitive to
win admission to top graduate programs, and complete a Ph.D., Ph.D./D.V.M. or M.D./Ph.D. degree in
disciplines relevant to biomedical research. We propose the following measurable objectives for the upcoming
five-year MARC U-STAR grant period: a) 100% of our students will finish their B.S.; b) at least seventy percent
(70%) of the participating undergraduates in the MARC U-STAR Program will enroll in graduate programs
leading to a Ph.D. in the biomedical sciences within three years of graduation; c) a publication rate of at least
two research papers per year in peer-review journals throughout the entire funding period of the proposal will
be maintained, where one of the authors is a MARC U-STAR UPRH student; d) at least thirty-three percent
(33%) of graduates from UPRH in the Natural Sciences will apply to a graduate program or a post
baccalaureate program. Based on the experience of having the MARC Program at UPRH for 29 years,
suggestions from previous Advisory Committees, feedback provided by former MARC students, and an
intensive evaluation scheme, our program will be designed to provide the student with the following
competencies, which we believe are crucial for a successful transition to a graduate program: intensive
research training, critical thinking development, communication skills, interpersonal skills, and preparation for
entrance to graduate school. To accomplish this, our program proposes activities organized in the following
Program Components: the MARC U-STAR Curriculum, Research Opportunities, Academic and Career
Advisement, Seminar and Guest Speaker Program, Workshops and other Developmental Activities, Peer-
mentorship among Trainees, and Community Outreach. The UPRH MARC U-STAR Program proposes to
train twenty (20) undergraduate students per year for biomedical research careers. Our trainees will
participate in our program for two (2) years, beginning at the end of their sophomore year. Participants will be
tracked throughout their undergraduate work through an intensive evaluation plan. This plan will provide
feedback for constant upgrading of the program. After completing the UPRH MARC U-STAR Program, our
trainees will have the required academic preparation and research experience to do graduate work in fields
such as Biochemistry, Biophysics, Microbiology, Cell Biology, Neuroscience, Cancer Biology, Organic
Chemistry, and other biomedical research areas.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10381133
- **Project number:** 3T34GM008156-30S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO AT HUMACAO
- **Principal Investigator:** EDWIN E TRAVERSO
- **Activity code:** T34 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $52,964
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 1986-06-01 → 2022-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10381133

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10381133, UPR-Humacao MARC U-STAR Program Supplement (3T34GM008156-30S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10381133. Licensed CC0.

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