# MARC at the University of California Santa Barbara

> **NIH NIH T34** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA · 2023 · $348,480

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
We propose a multi-tiered Maximizing Access to Research Careers at the University of California Santa Barbara (MARC-
UCSB) program that continues the successes of our current MARC program and increases retention and matriculation into
PhD and MD/PhD programs of all undergraduates (but especially underrepresented [UR] and disadvantaged students)
interested in pursuing careers in biomedical research. Nationwide, and at UC Santa Barbara, the greatest loss of UR
students from STEM fields occurs during the first two years. Consequently, the first phase of the MARC-UCSB program will
begin with a series of engagement points for MARC–eligible students that stimulate new points of entry into research and
scientific community, and integrate into existing infrastructure at UCSB. These engagement points will include: gateway
classroom outreach and early research experience; a mentoring network of peers, graduate students/postdoctoral
scholars, and faculty; and an introduction to research course called the “Practice of Science.” As they build community
and increase awareness of various research and career opportunities, students will be prepared to further develop as
researchers through the next phase of MARC-UCSB: the two-year MARC Scholars program, and accompanying MARC
Affiliate initiatives. Ten motivated students will be selected as MARC Scholars each year. In addition to acquiring extensive
research experience, they will grow their leadership skills through various professional opportunities such as presenting
at conferences, serving as mentors for lower division students, and developing a team-based community service project
in the service-learning course “Science for the Common Good”. Although 50 students will receive MARC scholarships, an
additional ~100 MARC-Affiliates will be impacted by our activities and will be well-prepared to apply for other synergistic
research internship programs and eventually to advanced degrees and careers in biomedical research. Underpinning this
Scholar retention and success will be a suite of faculty and graduate student/postdoc mentor training initiatives integrated
into developing infrastructure to impact the training landscape for sustained impact. Through the MARC-UCSB program
our long-term goals are to: a) enhance an institutional culture where students are immersed into a cohesive social,
academic, and research community that nurtures their success from an early stage; b) cultivate students’ confidence
and skills to enable them to matriculate into and succeed in top advanced degree programs; and c) grow and maintain
an institutional culture of mentoring excellence to create a more inclusive environment for our entire STEM campus
community. We propose a three-pronged approach to achieve this that will: 1) apply “proposed innovations” to meet our
objectives and address challenges in our current program, 2) expand “best practice elements” that have been core
features of our current successes, and 3) l...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10625331
- **Project number:** 5T34GM136466-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA
- **Principal Investigator:** Joel H. Rothman
- **Activity code:** T34 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $348,480
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-06-01 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10625331

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10625331, MARC at the University of California Santa Barbara (5T34GM136466-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10625331. Licensed CC0.

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