Training & Research Opportunities
NIH-MARC U*STAR Program. The NIH-MARC U*STAR Program at ASU is designed to improve the “Ph.D. readiness” of the ASU undergraduate students. The program design is based upon extensive evaluation of institutional and program baseline trends, and focuses upon 1) curricular reform, 2) increased reliability of selecting motivated and talented science students, 3) enhancement of defined cognitive and developmental skills toward Ph.D. readiness, 4) a continuous (potential 4-year) research experience developed with scientists at major research institutions, 5) strong and synergistic institutional commitment and 6) an evaluation system that focuses on student outcomes assessment, formative and summative evaluation supported by the institutional research division, as well as long-term progress monitoring of the professional progression of graduates. ASU Pre-MARC-START component is a volunteer program that seeks to identify freshmen and sophomore science majors with the potential to successfully complete the MARC U*STAR Program.
NIH-MBRS-SCORE Program. The purpose of the Minority Biomedical Research Support (MBRS) – Support for Continuous Research Excellence (SCORE) Program is to assist biomedical research faculty to develop competitive research programs, and to increase the number of underrepresented minority faculty engaged in biomedical research. Currently, ASU’s MBRS-SCORE Program features two research subprojects.
NIH-RIMI Program. The ASU Research Infrastructure in Minority Institutions (RIMI) Program is funded through the National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD), and has significantly enhanced the research capacity of ASU. The RIMI grant has four research subprojects, and provides seed grants to investigators to further enhance ASU’s research and training capacity.
NSF-HBCU-UP. The HBCU-UP Program aims to strengthen science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs at ASU. The goals of the program include systematic revision of STEM courses through inclusion of research/laboratory hands-on-experiences and providing students with tutorial assistance. The student research experience involves their participation during the academic year on a stimulating “hands-on experience''. Student's research training is further enhanced by facilitating summer internships at major partner research institutions.
NSF-Center for Nanobiotechnology Research (CNBR). The new research center funded by National Science Foundation ($4.97 million for 5 years) aims to strengthen and enhance interdisciplinary and inter-institutional collaborative research in the area of nanotechnology and biotechnology. The center facilitates four research themes: 1) Structural studies of RSV at nanoscale and viral inhibition by nanoparticles, 2) Carbon nanotube attached with ssDNA as nanosensor for detection of Salmonella typhimurium, 3) The development of nanobiomaterials for drug delivery, and 4) delivery of nanoparticle encapsulated anti-Chlamydial peptides in an animal model. These projects are carried out in collaboration with several research intensive institutions.
