Research Mentor Resources
Thank you for hosting URISE Trainees in your lab. The Research Experience they receive in your lab is instrumental to their personal, professional, and academic growth. On this page you will find many resources designed to assist you in the management of your URISE Trainees. If you have questions or need assistance, please email Dr. Shandee Dixon (shandee@pdx.edu), URISE Co-Investigator & RLC Coordinator.
program description & objectives
The mission of URISE (Undergraduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement) at PSU is to recruit, train, and mentor students from historically underrepresented groups to continue biomedical research training. URISE Trainees are undergraduates who are committed to pursuing advanced education,research training, and a research career in a biomedical, behavioral, social, clinical, or translational field.
The overall objective of URISE at PSU is to increase diversity in the biomedical research workforce by providing an effective undergraduate research training program for underrepresented students and by promoting equity and inclusion in undergraduate research opportunities and experiences.
Objective 1
Integrate evidence-based practices into a comprehensive and cohesive research training experience for students traditionally underrepresented in biomedical research that will promote the development of:
Science identity,self-efficacy, and sense of belonging in biomedical research
Conceptual and technical knowledge to conduct biomedical research
Practical and operational experience in conducting biomedical research
Professional development skills to pursue education and employment in biomedical research
Objective 2
Provide leadership in advancing institutional initiatives to enhance diversity and equity in undergraduate research opportunities and experiences by promoting the development of:
Inclusive and welcoming research environments for students of all backgrounds
Collaborative and sustainable alignment among undergraduate research training programs
Program Overview
summer 1
Trainees will:
Meet and fill out the Summer Trainee/RLC Agreement with their primary research mentor
Complete an intensive 10-week introduction to URISE program that supports trainees’ entry into RLCs
Complete 250 RLC hours between Tuesday, July 11 and Sunday, September 24 (2024 Dates TBD)
Attend both days and present a poster of their summer research at the Annual BUILD/URISE Summer Research Symposium on (2024 Dates TBD!)
Submit Monthly Reporting Forms (MRFs) signed by their Research Mentor by the 15th of each month. Late MRFs may result in delayed stipend payments to the student.
Submit the Quarterly Progress Report on or before (2024 Date TBD!)
Mentors will:
Teach the trainee research skills and techniques
Supervise Trainee's work
Demonstrate rigor in research
Provide feedback for continued growth and development
program year 1
Trainees will:
Enroll full-time (12 credits) at PSU in a biomedical major
Work ~10hrs/wk in their RLC (100 hours each term, Fall, Winter & Spring)
Submit Trainee/RLC Agreements each term. These agreements outline the work schedule, the project for that term, communication expectations and goals for the term.
Submit Monthly Reporting Forms (MRFs) with signed by their Research Mentor by the 15th of each month. Late MRFs may result in delayed stipend payments to the student.
Engage in monthly URISE workshops to hone professional development skills
Attend SACNAS or ABRCAMS to experience a professional development conference and develop initial ideas for their Summer Research Experience and graduate school.
These hours can count as RLC hours as long as your Trainee coordinates with you in advance of the conference
Mentors will:
Continue mentoring Trainee's as they integrate into the lab
Teach the trainee research skills and techniques
Supervise Trainee's work
Demonstrate rigor in research
Provide feedback for continued growth and development
summer 2
summer research experience
One of the unique features of the URISE program is the opportunity for Trainees to spend their second summer in the program in an 8- to 10-week Summer Research Experience (SRE) at a research-intensive institution.
The Summer Research Experience can also occur at OHSU within a Trainee's RLC or elsewhere at OHSU if the Trainee desires a different experience for their second summer in the program.
Extensive information about the SRE is available here:
program year 2
Trainees will:
Attain greater responsibility and will make substantial contributions to the research that warrant authorship credit on resulting posters, presentations, and publications
Engage in URISE workshops to focus on graduate school applications, interviews, and generating manuscripts and presentations based on RLC projects
Enroll full-time (12 credits) at PSU in a biomedical major
Work ~10hrs/wk in their RLC (100 hours each term, Fall, Winter & Spring)
Submit Monthly Reporting Forms (MRFs) by the 15th of each month. Late MRFs may result in delayed stipend payments to the student.
Present at a scientific conference. URISE has funds to sponsor students' travel to scientific conferences. See Conference Funds section below for details.
Attend SACNAS or ABRCAMS
These hours can count as RLC hours as long as your Trainee coordinates with you in advance of the conference
Financial Support
URISE Trainees receive four types of financial support:*
Tuition & fee remission
Monthly stipend
Conference funds:
URISE Trainees have up to $1,000 to attend either a professional development or scientific conference. These funds cover conference registration, lodging, meals, and travel.
Both cohorts are attending SACNAS from October 26 - 28, 2023
Cohort 2 has access to scientific conference funds until 3/31/2024 *Contact urise@pdx.edu if your student would like to travel after this date.
Cohort 3 will have access to scientific conference funds beginning 4/1/2024 *Contact urise@pdx.edu if your student would like to travel before this date.
Summer Research Experience per diem and travel funds
Trainees have up to $3,500 in per diem and travel funds when completing their SRE at a research-intensive institution
*As long as they remain eligible for the program
Program Year 1
During Trainees' first year in URISE, URISE Faculty would like Trainees to attend ABRCMS together. ABRCMS is an excellent professional development experience for undergraduates and is a great way for Trainees to build connections and ideas for their Summer Research Experience (SRE) and graduate school.
If you would like to have your Trainee attend a different conference during their first year in URISE, please let URISE Co-Investigator, Shandee Dixon (shandee@pdx.edu) know.
Program year 2
During Trainees' second year, URISE Trainees should attend a scientific conference with their RLC. The goal of this conference is to have Trainees present their research.
Monthly Reporting Forms (MRFs)
About the MRF
Trainees are required to log their hours weekly
The form auto-calculates hours by week and then by reporting period
Forms are due to URISE by the 15th of each month while they are on trainee appointment with NIH
URISE will request approval from the Trainee's Research Mentor
When do hours count? (2024 Dates COMING SOON!)
Summer: Tuesday, July 11 - Sunday, September 24
Fall: Tuesday, September 26 - Sunday, January 7, 2024
Winter: Monday, January 8, 2024 - Sunday, March 31, 2024
Spring: Monday, April 1, 2024 - Sunday, June 30, 2024
MOU
OHSU URISE RLC MOU 2022-2023.pdfURISE Memorandum of understanding
The URISE Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlines the responsibilities and agreements URISE RLCs. This MOU is here for your reference. If you have questions, reach out to Dr. Shandee Dixon (shandee@pdx.edu), URISE Co-Investigator and RLC Coordinator.
Need Assistance?
URISE Faculty and staff are here to facilitate successful research placements for URISE Trainees and mentors. If you ever run into a situation that is causing frustration or concern, please do not delay in reaching out to URISE faculty and staff:
Dr. Shandee Dixon (shandee@pdx.edu), URISE Co-Investigator and RLC Coordinator
Becky Miller (ramiller@pdx.edu or urise@pdx.edu), URISE Program Manager