Project Summary/Abstract The U-RISE at Marquette will expand the undergraduate research activities across three colleges at Marquette University by providing formal curricular and programmatic structure to introduce and support students towards their pursuit of research careers. Marquette research faculty are highly collaborative, interdisciplinary, pre- clinical and clinical investigators, and maintain robust research productivity. Goals of this proposal include: 1) focused recruitment of under-represented student populations, first-generation college students, and women; 2) the creation of a didactic-based research undergraduate course and continuous seminar series; 3) placing students into active research labs, 4) increasing a sense of belonging and persistence, and 5) facilitating graduate school application submission. Complementing the two years of rigorous and original research experience for U-RISE participants, U-RISE at Marquette has created a three-credit Path to Research course to introduce potential student researchers to skills and practices of career scientists as well as a continuous U- RISE seminar series (four semesters) to ensure all participants are engaged with and supported by the program. In addition to exploring the methodological and analytical skills required of scientists, the Path to Research and the U-RISE seminars will also extensively address the responsible conduct of research, written and oral science communication skills, and promote cultural validation, the development of a science-identity, and a sense of belonging to the Marquette and greater science community. U-RISE students will engage in course work, a summer research bootcamp, attend U-RISE and research seminars, write a pre-doctoral grant proposal, and develop an individual development plan with their research mentors. Student selection for the U-RISE at Marquette will emphasize the inclusion of under-represented student populations, first-generation college students, and women. While Marquette University has previously committed to further expanding campus diversity and inclusion through resource expansion and opportunities, the U-RISE at Marquette will serve as a prominent exemplar of Marquette’s mission -- Cura Personalis or “Care for the Whole Person”. Reflecting this mission, U-RISE scholars will receive personal and individualized academic advising, research training, and numerous opportunities to hone the scientific and professional skills to become a successful career scientist.

Project Narrative Career requirements and skills needed to become a research scientist are not always intuitive or consistently apparent. Various obstacles within a higher educational environment can often discourage students from pursuing graduate training and science careers. U-RISE at Marquette has designed curriculum and programming to support students as they gain undergraduate research expertise while cultivating a science- identity and sense of inclusion in the science community.