# Undergraduate Discovery Science Experience in Renal Biology and Disease

> **NIH NIH R25** · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · 2024 · $103,217

## Abstract

There is a critical need to increase the recruitment of a diverse workforce and develop next-generation scientists
who can conduct research in areas relevant to the NIH mission, particularly that of the NIDDK. Science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers are the fastest-growing occupation in the United
States, with around 70% of jobs requiring some education past high school. Yet less than 20% of college
graduates earn degrees in a STEM-related field, the initial step in accessing a research career. This number is
far lower for individuals from geographically- and economically-disadvantaged backgrounds and
underrepresented racial and ethnic minority groups and American Indian/Native Americans. Moreover, students
from diverse backgrounds face numerous challenges that threaten their entry into and persistence in
undergraduate STEM studies, and ultimately into the STEM workforce.
To address this shortfall, we developed a training program titled "Aspirnaut™ K-20 STEM Pipeline for Diversity
and Wellness" at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC). Since the program's inception in 2009, 137
undergraduate students from 24 states have matriculated into the pipeline. Ninety-eight percent were from
diverse backgrounds and 93% of the graduates pursued advanced STEM degrees. Among these trainees, 84
were sponsored by our R25 grant from 2013 to 2021.
In this renewal, we will leverage our success over 13 summers with the Aspirnaut™ training pipeline. In Aim 1,
we will recruit 40% of participants from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups and American Indians/Native
Americans and 70% from geographically- and economically-disadvantaged backgrounds and/or limited family
level of education. In Aim 2, we will engage undergraduate students in a guided discovery science experience
on the topic of "Renal Biology and Disease." In Aim 3, we will augment the discovery science experience with
guided professional skills development. In Aim 4, we will enhance the discovery science experience with guided
wellness training. Additionally, we will implement several innovations, piloted over the previous funding cycle, to
perfect a holistic model of the training pipeline.
The anticipated outcomes will increase the number and diversity of undergraduates entering STEM disciplines
of relevance to the NIDDK mission and serve as a model for replication.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10836340
- **Project number:** 5R25DK096999-13
- **Recipient organization:** VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** BILLY GERALD HUDSON
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $103,217
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2012-09-30 → 2028-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10836340

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10836340, Undergraduate Discovery Science Experience in Renal Biology and Disease (5R25DK096999-13). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-12 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10836340. Licensed CC0.

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