# Rural Alaska Students in One-Health Research (RASOR)

> **NIH NIH R25** · UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS · 2022 · $186,522

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
The RASOR project is designed to increase engagement of students from rural Alaska
communities in biomedical/STEM careers. Rural Alaskan communities are home to students of
intersecting identities underrepresented in biomedical science, including Alaska Native, low-
income, first generation college, and rural. Geographic isolation defines these communities and
can limit the exposure of students to scientifically-minded peers, professional role models, and
science career pathways. However these students also have a particularly strong
environmental connection through subsistence and recreational activities, which makes the one-
health approach to biomedicine an intuitive and effective route for introducing scientific research
and STEM content. In RASOR, we will implement place-based mentored research projects with
students in rural Alaskan communities at the high school level, when most students are
beginning to seriously consider career paths. The biomedical one-health approach will build
connections between student experiences of village life in rural Alaska and biomedical research.
Engaging undergraduate students in research has proved one of the most successful means of
increasing the persistence of minority students in science (Kuh 2008). Furthermore, RASOR
will integrate high school students into community-based participatory research (Israel et al.
2005). This approach is designed to demonstrate the practicality of scientific research, that
science has the ability to support community and cultural priorities and to provide career
pathways for individual community members. The one-health approach will provide continuity
with BLaST, an NIH-funded BUILD program that provides undergraduate biomedical students
with guidance and support. RASOR will work closely with BLaST, implementing among younger
(pre-BLaST) students approaches that have been successful for retaining rural Alaska students
along STEM pathways and tracking of post-RASOR students. Alaska Native and rural Alaska
students are a unique and diverse population underrepresented in biomedical science and
STEM fields.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10901585
- **Project number:** 7R25GM129838-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS
- **Principal Investigator:** Ellen Chenoweth
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $186,522
- **Award type:** 7
- **Project period:** 2019-07-01 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10901585

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10901585, Rural Alaska Students in One-Health Research (RASOR) (7R25GM129838-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10901585. Licensed CC0.

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