Project Summary The Evaluation Core of the UNM FIRST program will use cutting edge theoretical, measurement, and statistical approaches to conduct an innovative test of the effects of implementing a cohort model of faculty hiring, sponsorship, ongoing mentoring and support, and faculty development. Our long-term goal is to transform institutional culture at The University of New Mexico (UNM) to increase diversity and inclusive excellence. Our central hypothesis is that increasing and supporting faculty diversity and inclusion in STEM fields requires ongoing evaluation and self-reflection, and that evaluating implementation progress and challenges is critical to changing institutional culture. The specific aims of the UNM FIRST Evaluation Core are: to coordinate with the FIRST Coordination Evaluation Center (CEC) to evaluate the impact of the cohort cluster hiring model at multiple levels of analysis (AIM 1); to build upon data collection established by the NSF funded UNM ADVANCE Program, including characterizing faculty perceptions of the institutional climate and culture and the inner and outer context of research support in STEM related fields (AIM 2); to apply promising practices grounded in the science of team science to increase stakeholder engagement in the implementation and evaluation of UNM FIRST at all levels across UNM (AIM 3); and to test the implementation and effectiveness of UNM FIRST using a multilevel and multimethod analysis examining individual and institutional outcomes over time in the years proceeding and following the hiring of faculty by the UNM FIRST program (AIM 4). Specifically, we will use a mixed-methods longitudinal within- and between-subjects design to continuously monitor, track, and evaluate FIRST program activities and the outcomes of the FIRST program in changing institutional culture toward inclusive excellence and greater scientific discovery. Primary outcomes to be evaluated, include common data elements identified by the FIRST CEC, as well as metrics that are important to the UNM FIRST program, such as: (1) success among UNM FIRST Faculty hires in obtaining NIH R01-level funding; (2) transformation of institutional culture and climate to support diverse faculty; (3) promotion and tenure of UNM FIRST Faculty and other diverse faculty; and (4) retention of UNM FIRST Faculty and other diverse faculty. The science of team science and implementation science strategies and methods will serve as the guiding frameworks for evaluation of the UNM FIRST program. We will use implementation science methods to maximize the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance of evidence-based practices by the UNM FIRST program in promoting inclusive excellence. The significance of the proposed research is to determine the impact that faculty cohort hiring models can have on institutional culture change and to increase the NIH biomedical workforce.