An Initiative to Broaden Diversity in Undergraduate Biomathematics Training

Abstract

At North Carolina A&T State University (NCATSU), there was a critical need to better coordinate genuine research and classroom experiences for undergraduates early in their academic career. We describe the development and implementation of a faculty alliance across academic departments to increase biomathematics research opportunities for underrepresented minorities. Our faculty alliance is called the Integrative Biomathematical Learning and Empowerment Network for Diversity (iBLEND). The fundamental purpose of the iBLEND alliance was to inspire underrepresented minorities to pursue research careers by increasing the visibility of research conducted at the interface of mathematics and biology at NCATSU. Because of the many positive impacts, iBLEND gained significant buy-in from administration, faculty, and students by 1) working from the ground up with administration to promote campus-wide biomathematics research and training, 2) fostering associations between research and regular undergraduate academic courses, 3) creating and disseminating biomathematics teaching and learning modules, and 4) enhancing learning community support at the interface of mathematics and biology. Currently, iBLEND is viewed as a productive site for graduate schools to recruit underrepresented minority students having specific competencies related to mathematical biology.

Mathematical Biology: Expand, Expose, and Educate!

“…A great early example for effectively exposing students from diverse backgrounds to mathematical biology is the Integrative Biomathematical Learning and Empowerment Network for Diversity (iBLEND) alliance at North Carolina A&T State University. This alliance effectively prepared students for a computational background by increasing the visibility of on-campus research experiences, more cross-collaborative grant applications by the mathematics and biology departments, and by normalizing the concept of research (Goins et al 2010). The alliance proved itself successful, with 75% of the cohort identifying as African American or female, and 100% of the cohort who enrolled in a biomathematical graduate degree program.…”

The Academy for Future Science Faculty: randomized controlled trial of theory-driven coaching to shape development and diversity of early-career scientists

“…[7]). These approaches are pursued with the assumption that standard training practices will propel more of them to higher levels of success.…”

“…Most of the efforts to increase diversity have focused on getting a more diverse pool of young scientists up to the starting line of the PhD (e.g. [ 7 ]). These approaches are pursued with the assumption that standard training practices will propel more of them to higher levels of success.…”

Integrating Biology and Engineering

“…Because the science department's past work has actively promoted, presented, and published genuine undergraduate cross discipline-related research, the departments have gained significant favor across the university 1 . We have strong administrative leadership support for rigorous undergraduate research activities.…”