ADNiR Program Initiative

Statement of Purpose

The Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Brain Imaging (CCBBI) recognizes the critical need for a more diverse body in academia, science, and research. To afford the opportunity of success for all individuals, CCBBI is proposing the Advancing Diversity in NeuroImaging Research Initiative (ADNiR) to provide academic opportunities, professional development, and funding support, with a focus on individuals from underrepresented groups who are interested in pursuing a career in neuroimaging research.

As part of the Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Brain Imaging’s commitment to developing future generations of neuroimaging researchers, the ADNiR Initiative offers pathways to success in neuroimaging research focused on undergraduate students from underrepresented groups. The program aims to eliminate potential obstacles in a student’s academic success and professional development by providing hands-on research experiences in CCBBI-affiliated neuroimaging laboratories. The ADNiR Initiative recognizes the importance of formal training in several aspects of professional development; thus, an integral component of the ADNiR program will be to provide students with professional guidance and financial support for applying to graduate schools in their relevant area of study.

Great efforts have been made to make higher education accessible to everyone, however within the scientific community individuals from diverse groups are still underrepresented, with an even greater disparity in the research community. Although more than 30 years have passed since the academic imparity between ethnic groups was first identified, academic opportunities continue to remain out of reach for many individuals from underrepresented groups (Garrison, 2013). This imbalance increases in graduate school and continues to widen in the workforce. A study conducted by Li and Koedel (2017) reported diversity among faculty continues to be imbalanced with a majority of faculty members identifying with one ethnic group. There may be several reasons that factor into the disparity of students who choose a career path in academia or science; however, for many individuals the challenge may be having to choose to work instead of committing time, often voluntarily, in a research setting. Other challenges may be related to a cultural background that did not afford the same opportunities across genders or simply not being aware of the opportunity if the individual is a first- generation college student. A review by Estrada et al. (2016) identified these factors as significantly impacting the academic outcomes of these student populations. Removing some of these obstacles is the goal of the ADNiR Initiative.

Program Information

The long-term goal of the ADNiR Initiative is to create a community of neuroimaging researchers that is representative of the nation’s growing diversity to help foster a better understanding of the brain. To achieve that goal, the overall objective is to provide structured, hands-on research experiences and tailored professional development opportunities focused on undergraduate students from underrepresented groups. To accomplish this overall objective, the CCBBI supported ADNiR initiative will provide two fundamental experiences:

  1. Hands-on Research Experiences: In collaboration with CCBBI-affiliated laboratories, students selected through this program will be offered an opportunity to do a one-month lab rotation in three laboratories to provide exposure to a broader variety of neuroimaging research being conducted at OSU. This will be followed by a two-year, funded, Research Assistant (RA) position in one of the three laboratories decided mutually by the undergraduate student and the Principal Investigator (PI) of the laboratory. The latter experience is specifically designed to provide the student with direct, in-depth training in all aspects of neuroimaging research, from data acquisition through data analyses, to eventual dissemination of brain imaging research through peer-reviewed publication(s).

 

  1. Tailored Professional Development Opportunities: Throughout the two-year period, students will be afforded several opportunities that will be specifically tailored to meet their goal of pursuing a graduate program in their field of study. Specifically, the following opportunities will be provided to all students enrolled in the ADNiR Initiative: weekly seminars focusing on topics and techniques in cognitive neuroscience; monthly CCBBI Talk Series Meetings; monthly CCBBI Student Workshop meetings; and financial support of $1000 per year to attend and present at a national and domestic conference. Additional opportunities will be carved out in discussion with CCBBI Director, Dr. Prakash, the PI of the respective laboratory, and the undergraduate student.
  • The opportunity is open to undergraduate students interested in pursuing a career in neuroimaging research.  Students from underrepresented groups and diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. 

 

  • Applicants majoring in any of the disciplines supported by the College of Arts & Sciences, including but not limited to Psychology, Economics, Speech & Hearing Sciences, Communication, and Music are eligible to apply. Additionally, undergraduate students from other colleges at OSU will be considered as long as they choose to conduct their research in a CCBBI-affiliated lab.

 

  • Applicants who are enrolled as a college student and completed at least 3 semesters of college, (ie: second semester Sophomore), with a GPA of 3.1 or higher will be invited to apply for the program.

 

  • Student’s commitment to the ADNiR Initiative will last for 2 years.

 

  • Students will be expected to work 15-20 hours per week in a research lab and will be paid an hourly rate as determined by College HR.

 

  • Each student will receive 2 years of financial support from CCBBI. This will include paid hourly positions in a CCBBI-affiliated laboratory and travel to a domestic conference to present neuroimaging research.

 

  • Mentorship and professional development will be provided by a participating PI conducting research at CCBBI.

 

  • Students must attend weekly Cognitive Neuroscience Proseminars and bi-weekly CCBBI meetings. These meetings are designed to provide peer support and sharing of information to promote academic and professional success.

Often times an obstacle to exploring undergraduate research assistant opportunities is having to choose to work to pay the bills as most undergraduate research lab positions are for college credit. To eliminate the financial obstacle, students accepted into the program will be enrolled for a period of two years receiving financial support from CCBBI. The program will require students to work 15-20 hours per week as a paid undergraduate research assistant. A longitudinal study by Hernandez et al. (2018) reported that students working at least 10 hours a week in a research lab for at least two semesters had significantly higher acceptance rates into graduate school and greater participation in a scientific related career. Since each lab has different theoretical perspectives and expectations, students will interview with the PIs of each participating lab to determine the best fit for the student’s goals and interests. For the first summer in the program, students will participate in a lab rotation in which they will spend one month assisting in a participating lab to help them determine which lab is the best fit for them. After the summer rotation, students will be matched with a PI, joining their lab as a research assistant for a period of two years. Students will be expected to learn how to design and conduct a research study, which includes data collection, data analysis and co-authorship on a peer-reviewed manuscript. At the end of their undergraduate program, students will give a presentation to the students and faculty of the ADNiR Initiative.

For students interested in applying to the ADNiR Initiative, please email Adam Gorka at ccbbi.service@osu.edu with a copy of the application and your unofficial transcript. If you are simply interested in discussing the ADNiR Initiative, please email the CCBBI Director, Dr. Ruchika Prakash, at prakash.30@osu.edu

All research laboratories conducting studies at CCBBI will be invited to participate in the program. Mentorship has been identified as an essential factor for successful academic outcomes in students from underrepresented groups (Hernandez et al., 2018; Kaba, 2013). Participation will require PIs to mentor students to achieve academic success and prepare students for continued success.

 

Mentorship Expectations:

  • Identify a graduate student and/or post-doctoral scientist in their lab to provide direct mentorship to the undergraduate student. The lab mentor will advise student(s) through weekly meetings to provide training in data acquisition, designing of neuroimaging studies, and neuroimaging analyses. Additionally, the lab mentor in collaboration with the PI, will also provide support and encourage personal and professional growth, including identifying and working through challenges the student may experience.

 

  • Establish guidelines, clearly communicate the expectations of the student’s employment as an undergraduate research assistant, and provide evaluation to ensure student is receiving the guidance and support needed to succeed.

 

  • Provide updates to the CCBBI Director regarding the student’s progress on an annual basis.

The proposed deadline for accepting applications will be November 15 with an enrollment date of May of the following year. The goal of the program is to enroll 1-2 new students each year, with a maximum of six mentees enrolled at one time, to ensure that students are receiving the support and training necessary for achieving academic and professional success

Proposed Timeline 

Year 0

September - October 

  • Promote ADNiR Initiative to undergraduate students

October - November

  • Applications Open

November - December 

  • DEI Committee reviews applications

January

  • DEI committee interviews candidates

March

  • Candidates selected for the ADNiR program are notified

Year 1

May - July

  • ADNiR scholars begin rotations in three different labs

September

  • ADNiR scholars are matched to one of the labs they rotated with for two-years of research 

Spring

  • GRE preparation

Year 2

Summer/Autumn

  • GRE exam
  • Graduate school applications

Spring

  • Research experience presentations
  • Graduate school interviews and acceptance 
  • Graduation