NIH T34 Grant — Submitted

PI: David Ussery, Oklahoma State University

Project Summary 

The proposed T34 Biomedical Frontiers Fellows BURT training program at OSU is designed to prepare undergraduate students for successful careers in biomedical research by building a structured pathway from research readiness to scientific independence, leadership, and scholarly dissemination. The program emphasizes a broad foundation of scientific understanding, research engagement, professional competence, and community belonging.

The training model follows a staged developmental framework. Students begin with summer foundational training focused on initial research readiness, foundational safety and responsible conduct of research, and cohort formation. In the first year, trainees build core scientific reasoning skills through cognitive reframing of science, experimental logic, and research documentation literacy. In the second year, students transition toward independence by developing ethical and responsible research self-efficacy, methods and experimental design skills, and analytical and cross-domain communication abilities. An external summer research experience then strengthens adaptability, independence in a novel research environment, and professional research conduct. In the third year, trainees converge toward leadership and synthesis through scholarly dissemination of results, preparation for graduate school, and near-peer mentorship and research leadership.

The program is reinforced by several foundational activities that support trainee growth from multiple directions. These include foundational colloquium courses, micro-credentials, interdisciplinary community events, near-peer mentoring, mentored research activities, and research dissemination opportunities. Together, these activities create an integrated training environment that strengthens scientific competence, confidence, engagement, and persistence in biomedical research.

Overall, the BURT program will provide undergraduate trainees with a coherent, multi-year research training experience that combines technical preparation, responsible research practice, communication skills, mentoring, and community support. By helping students move from readiness to independence and leadership, the program aims to expand the pipeline of well-prepared, confident, and competitive students entering graduate education and biomedical research careers.