# G-RISE at the University of Texas at El Paso

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS EL PASO · 2024 · $593,806

## Abstract

Project Summary
The primary mission of the G-RISE Scholars Program at the University of Texas at El
Paso (UTEP) is to increase the participation of underrepresented minority (URM) Ph.D.
trainees in biomedical/biochemical research. The rationale for this program is based on
the stated goals of the NIH to increase URM representation at all levels of the Ph.D.
pipeline. The UTEP G-RISE Program will be an inter-departmental training program with
trainees in the Biosciences and the Chemistry and Biochemistry Ph.D. programs. The
overarching goal of this proposal is to significantly increase the participation of URM
doctoral students in the Biosciences and Chemistry/Biochemistry programs over the next
5 years and successfully prepare them for careers in the research workforce using
effective, evidence-informed approaches. To accomplish our goal, we will pursue the
following specific objectives: (1) Increase the number of URM students that enroll in
UTEP's Biosciences and Chemistry and Biochemistry Ph.D. programs; (2) Ensure that
the majority of trainees graduate within six years in the program; (3) Ensure that trainees
and faculty mentors participate in all G-RISE training activities and comply with training
grant requirements; and (4) Expect that all trainees will publish at least two peer-
reviewed manuscript(s) prior to graduation. The current proposal is modeled on the
successful implementation of RISE undergraduate and graduate training program. Due
in part to this program, the Biosciences Ph.D. program was able to increase URM
representation (primarily Mexican-American) to 75% since the implementation of the
program. In this proposal, we are specifically requesting to train 12 first year Ph.D.
trainees per year that will be appointed for 3 years each. The G-RISE intended
outcomes are to significantly enhance our existing graduate programs by increasing the
number of trainees, by adding valuable training workshops for all graduate students, and
by lowering the years to degree. The G-RISE graduate trainees will also receive
enhanced mentorship and guidance from the PD and Co-PDs who will counsel them at
important junctures and checkpoints during their graduate careers. The goals and
objectives that have been proposed in this application should allow us to continue to
generate a highly talented pool of trainees with a genuine interest in pursuing academic
biomedical research careers.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10819568
- **Project number:** 5T32GM144919-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS EL PASO
- **Principal Investigator:** RENATO J AGUILERA
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $593,806
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-05-01 → 2025-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10819568

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10819568, G-RISE at the University of Texas at El Paso (5T32GM144919-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10819568. Licensed CC0.

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