PROJECT SUMARY ABSTRACT There is a need to train undergraduate students in the scientific process so that they will be equipped with confidence to seek further education beyond an undergraduate degree and the skills necessary to succeed in graduate school and beyond. Reaching students earlier in the pipeline is critical to ensure the pipeline does not lose the vital voices that can bring richness in thought and excellence in approach to the scientific process required to address the public health needs of the Nation. NIDA UMBC Research Training Pilot (RTP) aims to further train, mentor, and prepare current UMBC students with strong interests in STEM for a career in addiction research. This will be facilitated by hands-on research internships and mentoring by NIDA's distinguished IRP scientists with the objective of fostering a deep drive and passion for addiction science in students that will bridge their future education and career choices. The internship may include laboratory experiments, data collection, data analysis, participation in lab meetings, interaction with research participants, manuscript preparation, literature reviews, and other laboratory duties. In addition, it is expected that interns will deliver a formal presentation on their research project two times during the academic year.