# STEM BUILD 2.0 at UBMC

> **NIH NIH UL1** · UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE COUNTY · 2020 · $1,157,857

## Abstract

Contact PD/PI: Rous, Philip J
The overall core of the STEM BUILD 2.0 at UMBC initiative (July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2024) is to implement, scale,
and sustain through institutional change and integration into the academic core the interventions and best
practices found to be of significant impact to undergraduate academic success, persistence, and readiness to
matriculate into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) graduate programs and/or
employment opportunities, especially those related to biomedical research. Capacity, scalability, and
sustainability (i.e., infrastructure) coupled with collective impact forms the foundation of all decisions of this
initiative, as we envision the advantages and opportunities of individual scholar programs applied to all students.
We will pursue our vision in three ways and use the Pathways to STEM Success model for evaluation.
Institutional Development – Build and permanentize the infrastructure to implement scalable interventions
that effectively boost undergraduate performance and persistence in STEM fields. These early
interventions include approaches to build community, effective academic and career advising, research
education and experiences, and culturally-sensitive faculty. Better-trained students will increase the number of
underrepresented minorities pursuing post-graduate degrees while increasing the productivity of faculty
researchers. Research Education – Design and implement a strategically coordinated group of academic
and research education courses to overcome the challenges that promising students often encounter (e.g.,
limited positions for internships and undergraduate research positions for which students in scholars’ programs
are favored). Infusing these courses into the fabric of the academic core increases the capacity (through BUILD
Group Research, STEM and research readiness/practicum modules, and curriculum-based undergraduate
research experiences) for all students to have an applied learning experience, which is critical to student success,
persistence and scientific efficacy. Student Training Core – Reimagine the BUILD Training Program (BTP) as
a two-year training phase followed by a two-year affiliate phase to ensure that promising students are
retained in STEM majors and better prepared for post baccalaureate, graduate, or professional programs, with
an emphasis on biomedical and behavioral research. This “2 year within a 4 year” model for direct entry students
targets the times they are at most risk for switching from STEM majors or leaving the university. The model aligns
well with the pathways of transfer students, who enter with associates degrees from their sending institutions.
Such an approach is the basis for a comprehensive model for a public university to engage promising, at-risk
students and help them develop the skills, experience and motivation to excel in STEM programs and eventually
diversity the biomedical research workforce. STEM BUILD 2.0 will cont...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9978879
- **Project number:** 5UL1GM118988-07
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE COUNTY
- **Principal Investigator:** William Richard LaCourse
- **Activity code:** UL1 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $1,157,857
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2014-09-26 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9978879

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9978879, STEM BUILD 2.0 at UBMC (5UL1GM118988-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9978879. Licensed CC0.

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