# SSU MARC U-STAR Program

> **NIH NIH T34** · SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $218,405

## Abstract

Savannah State University (SSU), a HBCU with 84% African American enrollment,
submits a renewal MARC U-STAR program proposal to increase the number of underrepresented
minorities in the biomedical/behavioral science workforce. The renewal proposal seeks to build
on the foundations and successes of SSU’s current MARC training program (2012-2018). Over
the past 5 years, the current MARC program has trained 13 scholars, of whom 38% to date have
entered biomedical/behavioral science graduate programs (1 postbac, 2 MS, 2 PhD); other MARC
trainees are still in the pipeline to the PhD. Continued renewal funding is needed to sustain the
momentum created by the current MARC program, along with gains from SSU’s other recent NIH
biomedical research training funding (RISE, NIBIB, and RIMI). The 5 year goals of the proposed
renewal program are: a) 13 Honors MARC junior/senior scholars (juniors recruited by year
3/2/3/2/3) will be trained over the 5 year term, with 100% graduating with the bachelor’s degree;
and b) 60% will enter biomedical/behavioral science PhD programs within 3 years of the BS
degree, and of these 80% (6) will earn the PhD.
 The 60% PhD entry rate will be achieved and sustained through implementation of new
strategies developed through a rigorous institutional assessment: a) Strengthen the quality of
MARC trainees by strengthening the identification and recruitment of the highest-potential
students who have genuine research career ambitions as evidenced by prior successful research
experiences; b) Strengthen the quality of research training, through strengthened Scholar
professional development and program evaluation conducted in partnership with research
intensive graduate program partners; and c) Strengthen the quality of mentoring provided to
MARC scholars by coordinating with graduate program partners and NIH National Research
Mentoring Network (NRMN) on mentoring and grants-writing training for SSU MARC
preceptors, and by each preceptor developing postbac and other bridge strategies to ensure
transitions to PhD programs. The overriding goal of the new strategies is to focus on the quality
of the trainees, the mentors, and the training program, with 5 high-quality scholars each year
matched with 5 high-quality mentors.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9928943
- **Project number:** 5T34GM100832-08
- **Recipient organization:** SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Cecil Laverne Jones
- **Activity code:** T34 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $218,405
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2012-06-01 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9928943

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9928943, SSU MARC U-STAR Program (5T34GM100832-08). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9928943. Licensed CC0.

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