MBRS RISE Program
Research Training Program
The MBRS RISE research training components are:
Freshman/Sophomore Training is designed to increase the preparation of RISE
students to successfully compete in upper level college courses, and prepare
them for active pursuit of biomedical research during the sophomore, junior
and senior years. Students are admitted to the Program in the fall of the
freshman year. The Program provides academic advising, peer mentoring,
training in the responsible conduct of research, academic year and summer
research, a summer laboratory techniques course, participation in a
biomedical research seminar series and graduate school tours.
Junior/Senior Training is designed to enhance the academic preparation and
research training of juniors and seniors in preparation for graduate study
in the biomedical sciences. This training is designed to enhance the
achievement and retention of RISE scholars and engages students in intensive
biomedical research training. The Program provides academic and graduate
school advising, intensive research experiences during the academic year and
summer, participation in a biomedical research seminar series and graduate
school tours.
The research training program components include the following:
A Community of Scholars and Researchers
RISE scholars participate in bi-annual group retreats that include team building activities, exercises in
working collaboratively and recreational activities. These retreats, held
in September and April of each academic year, serve to establish cohesion
and facilitate collaboration among students and program administrators.
Monthly Program meetings encourage interaction between program participants,
as well as to provide training seminars in research lab etiquette, poster
presentation preparation, and preparing competitive summer research and
graduate school applications. Peer mentoring within disciplines is a key
component of the program. Vertical peer mentoring within disciplines will
require junior and senior participants to “mentor” freshman and sophomore
participants majoring in the same discipline.
Intensive Academic Mentoring
RISE scholars receive intensive advising
throughout students’ participation in the program. Each RISE student is
required to attend bi-weekly cohort group meetings with the academic
coordinator appropriate for their year of matriculation. These meetings
facilitate implementation of the RISE mentoring curriculum which includes a
number of training modules. Also, students meet individually with the
coordinator to develop a four-year academic graduation plan as well as to
review and revise this plan and to prepare upcoming semester schedules of
courses. At the end of each semester, participants meet with the project
director to review the student’s academic progress and progress in meeting
RISE Program expectations. During the junior and senior years advising also
focuses on identifying a specialized interest in the sciences and making
choices conducive to graduate school admission.
Responsible Conduct of Research Training
RISE scholars complete training in the responsible conduct of research.
Ethics training workshops familiarize students with the best practices in
conducting research and clarify guidelines, potential conflicts of interest
and other ethical dilemmas that they may face. Workshop topics include:
research misconduct, policies regarding the use of animal and human
subjects, data management, conflicts of interest and responsible authorship.
Academic Year Mentored Research
Early exposure to and training in the biomedical sciences is essential to
preparing students to pursue careers in the biomedical sciences. The
sophomore year mentored research experience provides early exposure to
biomedical research. Freshmen and sophomore students engage in research for
a minimum of ten hours each week. Juniors and seniors engage in research
for a minimum of 15 hours/weekly. RISE scholars are required to participate
in all aspects of the research process, including data collection, data
analyses and presentation of results and to present their research at the
ABRCMS meeting. Students also are required to present at the annual
Morehouse College F.E. Mapp Science Symposium.
Summer Research Training
An essential component of preparing students for
research careers in the biomedical sciences is preparation through intensive
training in cutting edge biomedical research labs. During the summer months
after the freshman, sophomore and junior year, students complete summer
research internships at research-intensive sites across the country. The
RISE Program assists students in identifying placements and preparation of
applications for summer programs.
Biomedical Research Seminar Series
Exposure to cutting edge biomedical research across science disciplines benefits students
who become more aware of the research being conducted in their own or related disciplines.
This seminar series focuses on cutting edge research demonstrating the use of
biomedical techniques in each of the disciplines represented in STEM fields.
RISE scholars are required to attend these important seminars.
Summer Laboratory Techniques Course for Rising Sophomores
The Summer Laboratory Techniques Course is designed for rising sophomores who will
benefit from an introduction to interdisciplinary research techniques in
biology, chemistry, physics, psychology and statistics. The Summer
Laboratory Techniques Course includes five mini-courses, along with informal
presentations by biomedical research scientists, field trips and discussion
of research ethics. RISE scholars who are not placed in active research
laboratories participate in the Summer Laboratory Techniques Course.
Graduate School Tours
Exposure to graduate programs at research intensive
institutions allows students to develop clear expectations and understanding
of requirements for graduate programs in their discipline. This direct
contact with graduate program administrators, faculty researchers and
students allows RISE scholars to develop contacts for summer research
experiences and experience directly the academic and research environment of
graduate programs.
