# Maximizing Access to Research Careers

> **NIH NIH T34** · SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $247,644

## Abstract

MARC Program Abstract
San Diego State University proposes to continue to support 10 Maximizing Access to Research Career
(MARC) honors scholars with a strong academic curriculum and graduate school preparation centered on
faculty mentored research experiences that develop research and laboratory skills and provide opportunities
for our scholars to contribute to manuscripts leading to presentations at professional conferences and
publications. By continuing to improve and grow a Pre-MARC program and working with the university to use
evidence based evaluation data to improve and institutionalize more programs to enhance student success
and diversity in STEM disciplines, we anticipate we will be able to maintain an 80%-90% rate of matriculation
to Ph.D. programs in STEM disciplines. New workshops, redesigned research seminars and specialized
coursework have been developed to encourage professional development; enhance quantitative skills and oral
and written communication; improve critical thinking and standardized test taking skills; and provide
opportunities to practice presenting research before audiences of faculty and other scholars. MARC scholars
will participate in classroom and journal club presentations and be engaged in a course on the responsible
conduct of scientific research. The program will involve the UCSD IRACDA postdoctoral program in which a
unique population of diverse postdoctoral scholars will assist in the mentorship and development of URM
MARC trainees. MARC and Pre-MARC Scholars will also sign up for the virtual mentoring and undergraduate
workshop opportunities through the National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) and they will participate in
growth mindset training; interventions that can formally and informally create positive mindsets and motivation
among our students. MARC faculty mentors are chosen for their outstanding accomplishments in facilitating
undergraduate research training but they will also participate in culturally responsive training workshop to
encourage their ability to promote growth mindsets. They will also participate in relevant mentor training
activities offered through NRMN. MARC scholars will be selected from across many STEM disciplines, the
program will have an interdisciplinary focus that will allow students to share their work with students from other
disciplines and to discover the interconnections across disciplines. The program integrates academic advising,
peer mentoring as well as opportunities for students to socialize and connect with others who have similar
academic goals. Various evaluation methods will be used to build on and improve evidence-based program
elements that will encourage persistence and successful application to and success in STEM doctoral
programs. We will work closely with the student development projects organized under the College of Sciences
(COS) Center for the Advancement of Students in Academia and continue to collaborate with other student
development and st...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9932402
- **Project number:** 5T34GM008303-31
- **Recipient organization:** SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** CATHERINE J ATKINS
- **Activity code:** T34 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $247,644
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1989-06-01 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9932402

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9932402, Maximizing Access to Research Careers (5T34GM008303-31). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9932402. Licensed CC0.

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