Developing Research Capacity at Teaching Intensive Universities to Science Teaching and Research Training- Breakout Session Facilitated by CSULB BUILD

In order to support the broadened participation of underrepresented undergraduate students in biomedical/behavioral research, an institution needs to have a strong research base (which varies by institution) and faculty who are trained in various aspects of cultural awareness, inclusiveness, mentoring skills, etc. to support these students. Developing the research capacity can include preparing students to engage fully in research with a faculty mentor, providing resources to faculty to increase their mentoring skills and capacity to be competitive for external funding, and building infrastructure on campus that includes adequate and modern facilities, state-of-the-art equipment, and support for scholarly and creative activities.

This session is led by Laura Kingsford and Jess Dillon from CSULB. They shared what BUILD has allowed CSULB to do to increase the research capacity and awareness of the value of undergraduate research. Strategies for collaboration and sharing resources/interventions/innovations that increase research capacity at the student, faculty and institutional levels were discussed.

Participants broke into groups to discuss student, faculty and institutional activities that could be sustainable beyond BUILD. 

These ideas were formulated:
1.     Sustain mentoring community.
2.     Require faculty to take mentor training prior to taking students.
3.     Give new faculty funds to support travel for external mentors.
4.     Create mentoring circles to discuss mentoring and discuss best practices.
5.     Summer research using other NIH funding mechanisms; supplement with faculty and reach broader audience
6.     Student support through fundraising.
7.     Pursue other federal opportunities.
 

Facilitator: Laura Kingsford and Jesse Dillon- California State University, Long Beach (CSULB BUILD) 

All facilitators were allowed to share the session materials through the intranet. These materials may be accessed here.
If materials are not found, please contact the facilitators directly.