The University of Texas at San AntonioDonovan L. Fogt, PhDAssociate Professor, Department of Kinesiology, Health, and NutritionDirector, UTSA Exercise Biochemistry & Metabolism LaboratoryUniversity of Texas at San AntonioAdjunct Asst. Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology, and Palliative MedicineUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

The University of Texas at San AntonioDonovan L. Fogt, PhDDirector, Office of Undergraduate ResearchOffice of Research SupportVice President for Research DivisionUniversity of Texas at San Antonio

Integrative Biomedicine

Cloud, Cyber Computing &

Analytics

Social & Educational Transformation

Advanced Materials

Sustainable Communities &

Critical Infrastructures

http://research.utsa.edu/UGresearch/https://www.facebook.com/UTSAundergraduateresearchhttps://twitter.com/UTSAOUR

Office of Undergraduate Research (O.U.R.)Excellence through Scholarly Inquiry and the Creation of Knowledge

Undergraduate research is a transformative educational experience involving collaboration between students and faculty members.

It compliments and enhances the effectiveness of classroom learning.

Students learn to engage in the discovery process and create knowledge through various methods of inquiry and analysis.

The O.U.R. at The University of Texas at San Antonio exists to promote, facilitate, and support all types of undergraduate research and scholarly inquiry.

http://research.utsa.edu/UGresearch/

Student participation in research experiences has been associated with improved academic performance and sustained interest in research careers in the basic and biomedical sciences (see Fechheimer et al., CBE-Life Sciences Education, 10: 156-163; Russell et al., Science, 316 (5824): 548-549)

http://research.utsa.edu/UGresearch/

Office of Undergraduate Research (O.U.R.)Excellence through Scholarly Inquiry and the Creation of Knowledge

http://research.utsa.edu/UGresearch/

The benefits for students engaged in research and creative work are numerous:

1. Enhances student learning2. Increases retention and enrollment in advanced education and provides effective

career preparation3. Cultivate relationships with faculty, graduate students, administrators, and members of

student’s field of interest that are outside of the UTSA campus4. Develops an understanding of research methodology and academic inquiry5. Promotes an innovation-oriented culture, exploring academic interests beyond the

classroom6. Acquire real life, hands-on experience that is used in student’s field of interest7. Develop academic/professional credentials and skills8. Demonstrate successful grant writing skills9. Helps define or, in some cases, redefine, student’s academic and career goals10.Personal benefits such as responsibility, maturity, confidence, ethics11.Development as a critical and independent thinking, creativity, and problem solving

The “WHY” of Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry

http://research.utsa.edu/UGresearch/

There are quite a few official undergraduate research programs across campus. Students can also consider working with faculty member as a volunteer, enroll in a research experience/independent study/studio-type course and receive credit for participating!

A variety of programs exist to support undergraduate research on campus. Check out the webpages of the UTSA Colleges, Departments, and faculty members that may best match your interests. Many are also listed on UGresearch site (provided below)!

Students should simply:

1. Identify their interests2. Preparing to introduce yourself to faculty members and discussing your interest in

the UG research experience3. Consider time commitment for UG research (work, transportation, class load, etc.)4. Prepare for initial meeting with a faculty member by doing background searches5. Go meet them. Several of them!

The “HOW” of Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry

UTSA McNair Scholars The federally funded McNair Scholars Program selects and prepares 25 high-achieving sophomores (with at least 30 college hours), along with juniors and seniors, with aspirations to pursue doctoral studies.

Low-income, first-generation college students and/or students underrepresented in doctoral programs are invited to apply.

• Academic and Personal Development

• Paid Summer Research with a Faculty Mentor

• Assistance with Graduate School Admission

• GRE Preparation• Exposure to scholarly activities

and college visitations

For more info contact: 210-458-4286 or mcnair@utsa.edu

MARC-U*STAR• Training for PhD Program Entry• Laboratory Research• Travel + Professional Development training• Jr/Sr level undergrads (two year requirement)• Majors

– - Biology - Mathematics– - Chemistry - Physics– - Computer Science - Psychology– - Biomedical Engineering

• GPA Required: Pre-PhD: 3.3. Pre-MD/PhD: 3.7• 2 years of support• Monthly Stipend: $969 plus partial tuition• http://www.utsa.edu/marc

http://research.utsa.edu/UGresearch/

Historically, underrepresented minority (URM) groups are the fastest growing component within the US population. Yet, URMs make up a disproportionally small part of the NIH funded Principal Investigator (PI) pool (2).

For example, Hispanics and Black or African Americans represent 16.3 and 12.6%, respectively, of the US population in 2010 but accounted for only 3.5 and 1.1% of the NIH PIs receiving research project grants.

One reason posited for this disparity included what was termed a “leaky pipeline” (1). Thus, efforts undertaken to recruit and prepare URMs with B.A./B.S. degrees in the biological and behavioral sciences such that they are academically prepared upon entry to graduate school to obtain their doctorate degrees. Thus, broadening preparation and participation of URMs in biomedical, behavioral, and social science research is critical for the nation’s scientific progress and health.

The need for DIVERSITY in STEM Undergraduate Research

1. Ginther DK, Schaffer WT, Schnell J, Masimore B, Liu F, Haak LL, et al. Race, ethnicity, and NIH research awards. Science. 2011;333(6045):1015-9. PMCID: 3412416.

2. Working Group on Diversity in the Biomedical Research Workforce (WGDBRW) Diversity in the Biomedical Research Workforce Working Group Report; 2012.

MBRS-RISE• Training for Doctoral Program Entry• Funding for Laboratory Research, Travel• Professional Training & Mentoring• Majors

– - Biology - Mathematics– - Chemistry - Physics– - Computer Science - Psychology– - Biomedical Engineering

• Hourly Pay ($12.00), 15 h/40 h summer• Sophomore and Above, 3.0 preferred, U.S. Citizen or Perm. Res.• 1 year prior to graduation. • Underrepresented in science or financially disadvantaged• http://www.utsa.edu/mbrs/ugRISE/ugRISE.htm

What is UTSA Top Scholar?• Merit scholarship + enrichment programming

– Personalized and tailored to individual scholar • Aimed at:

– Very high achieving HS students – Well rounded experiences in school, extra curricula activities, and

community/volunteer service• Best opportunity for selection

– Top 5%, 1400 SAT, 32 ACT– Demonstrated excellence

• Rewarded for potential, not solely past performance

• 4-year comprehensive merit scholarship– Tuition and fees, room and board

• Concierge level service– VIP Access

• Signature experiences and individualized programming– Mentoring, research opportunities, internships, study abroad

• Personalized leadership and professional development– Access to university and community leaders

• Auto-enrollment in Honors College

What will a UTSA Top Scholar receive?

The University of Texas at San AntonioDonovan L. Fogt, PhDAssociate Professor, Department of Kinesiology, Health, and NutritionDirector, UTSA Exercise Biochemistry & Metabolism LaboratoryUniversity of Texas at San AntonioAdjunct Asst. Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology, and Palliative MedicineUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

The University of Texas at San AntonioDonovan L. Fogt, PhDDirector, Office of Undergraduate ResearchOffice of Research SupportVice President for Research DivisionUniversity of Texas at San Antonio

Integrative Biomedicine

Cloud, Cyber Computing &

Analytics

Social & Educational Transformation

Advanced Materials

Sustainable Communities &

Critical Infrastructures

http://research.utsa.edu/UGresearch/

Thank You!!!