A winning combination for student success includes classroom dialogues that motivate learning, research practice and strong mentor/student relationships. The goal: Train undergraduate researchers in the biomedical fields. The way to do it: Through BUILD PODER, a campus-wide, $28 million, five-year NIH grant based on inclusion, mentoring, and bringing diverse perspectives and voices to the table.
For students and faculty in the College of Health and Human Development, it would seem that the BUILD PODER grant, which gets students involved in research to address health disparities, is tailor made for our involvement.
Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (BUILD) Promoting Opportunities for Diversity in Education and Research (PODER) puts CSUN into partnerships with several community colleges and public and private university partners to identify and nurture BUILD PODER scholars. In advisement sessions and the classroom, we’re getting to know our students and looking for those who may have what it takes to influence the future of healthcare and biomedical fields but may not know it. BUILD PODER scholars will spend three years in a guided process of discovering their educational passions and engaging in applied and biomedical research. Finally, drawing on these experiences, they will be encouraged to apply to graduate programs, receiving support and guidance along the way.
As faculty engage in the grant through research projects, research exchanges, and curriculum development around the program’s initiatives, they will also develop a variety of other opportunities to conduct quality research with students. Another goal of the grant is to establish a new Health and Health Disparities Research Center at CSUN. The center is envisioned to set new benchmarks for supporting and expanding research in a wide array of health disparities issues.
From sophomores to seniors, this year’s group of BUILD PODER scholars will jump into the project in August and begin participating in research methods and statistics courses. They will also establish mentoring relationships for a year-long intensive research experience that will lead to presenting their own research at national conferences. Through professional development activities, career and academic advisement, and close involvement with culturally focused biomedical research, the BUILD PODER community is committed to helping these scholars get the preparation they need to become successful biomedical researchers. Find out more about this great opportunity for students from the BUILD PODER website.