KU News Release

Program that aims to increase student diversity gets $1.6 million grant renewed

LAWRENCE — The National Institutes of Health renewed a $1.6 million grant to a program at the University of Kansas that encourages underrepresented students to pursue careers in biomedical science by supporting undergraduate research activities.

The grant was renewed for four years to support KU’s Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity, one of five such programs overseen by KU’s Office for Diversity in Science Training, directed by James Orr, professor of molecular biosciences.

Orr also is program director for the Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity grant. Marigold Linton, director for American Indian outreach, and Estela Gavosto, associate director of the Office for Diversity in Science Training and associate professor of mathematics, are co-investigators for the grant.

“Since our program began in 2001, 86 KU students have participated in the Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity program,” Orr said. “These students have presented over 200 presentations at local or national conferences. It is only with NIH support that we can provide opportunities for the talented KU students planning careers in biomedical research yet are under-represented in their fields.”

Gavosto added that 17 scholars will present results of their undergraduate research at the ninth annual Haskell/KU Undergraduate Research symposium April 28 at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence.

The Initative for Maximizing Student Diversity consists of four components: mentored research experiences; enhancements to the science and math curriculum; a seminar series; and mentoring and financial support. The five-semester seminar series includes a course on responsible conduct in research and requires an application to graduate school. The program also collaborates with the Bridges to the Baccalaureate program, which provides support for transfer students in biomedical disciplines from Haskell.

The undergraduate research experience takes an interdisciplinary approach to placing Initative for Maximizing Student Diversity scholars into one of 80 KU labs and requires students to share their research results at local and national meetings.

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