PROJECT SUMMARY The University of Rhode Island proposes to establish the URI ESTEEMED program to provide a diverse cohort of students from underrepresented backgrounds with the skills and resources necessary to pursue advanced education and degree programs in bioengineering and related disciplines. The goals of URI ESTEEMED program are (1) to develop a cohort of scholars from underrepresented backgrounds who embody critical thinking, engineering design, and fundamental research skills that enable them to develop an early scientific inquiry and research mindset, and (2) to support the development of Scholars’ STEM identity and self-efficacy through self-exploration, faculty and near-peer mentoring, academic and professional development advising, academic support and preparation, and positive research experiences. Scholars selected for URI ESTEEMED will participate in the program through their first two years of college, which involves intentionally designed activities, including a summer bridge program, academic year training and research activities, early exposure to biomedical research, and strong mentoring by faculty and peers. Participants will advance through increasingly sophisticated activities to provide them with a chance to engage in mentored bioengineering research, develop and hone technical skills, and fully realize their scientific identity. Together with numerous community-building activities, this progressive program will instill students with a sense of personal belonging and engagement within the STEM community and promote participation towards advanced degree programs. We hypothesize that the development of scholar identity and self-efficacy will result in improved academic and research performance and deeper engagement with scientific fundamentals. The PI of URI ESTEEMED – a tenured female professor in engineering with strong leadership and training skills – will oversee program design and implementation with support from a professor in engineering (Co-I) who has extensive experience in the LGBTQ+ community and curriculum development. In achieving the URI ESTEEMED goals, it is anticipated that 100% of ESTEEMED Scholars will be prepared to enter an advanced honors program, at least 90% will enroll in an advanced program after their sophomore year, and 90% of scholars will self-identify as a bioengineering or biomedical scientist. Overall, through the URI ESTEEMED program, we will create a robust and inclusive environment to support underrepresented students early in their academic careers, who possess the technical and soft skills necessary to excel in advanced research programs and ultimately pursue Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. degrees.

PROJECT NARRATIVE The University of Rhode Island proposes creating the URI ESTEEMED program to provide academic enrichment, develop research skills, and support a dynamic scholar community to encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds to pursue further studies and careers in bioengineering and related fields. The URI ESTEEMED program will nurture freshman and sophomore students from underrepresented backgrounds through a multi-year training program in which they gain invaluable experiences and skills enabling them to participate in mentored research and self-identify as researchers and bioengineers. With this comprehensive support strategy, URI ESTEEMED will develop a cohort of diverse students who possess the technical and soft skills necessary to excel in advanced research programs and ultimately pursue Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. degrees.