UCI Programs for Outreach and Research Training

Office of the Dean
Minority Science Programs (MSP)

Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC)

Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research (U-STAR) Program

Sponsored by the National Institutes of Health

NIH Grant T34GM069337 from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences

Program Announcement

Program Directors

Dr. Francisco J. Ayala, University Professor and Bren Professor, School of Biological Sciences

Dr. Luis M. Mota-Bravo, Director of Outreach, Research Training and Minority Science Programs, School of Biological Sciences

Applications will be reviewed starting on Friday May 10, 2013 until all the fellowships are filled.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Minority Science Programs (MSP) in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) announces the Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) Program, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). MARC seeks to increase the number of underrepresented minority (URM) researchers in biomedical research careers, by supporting junior and senior URM students in their preparation for graduate training in the biomedical/behavioral sciences.

MARC scholars engage in year-round biomedical research under the mentorship of a UCI faculty member and receive financial support in the form of,

·     Stipend in the amount of $11,400 per year to engage in biomedical research,

·     Funds for tuition and fees in the amount of $5,749 per year for Fall, Winter and Spring quarters,

·     Travel funds for one summer at an extramural site for a research training experience (foreign sites are not allowed)

·     Computer support and supplies to print posters and prepare presentations, and

·     Funds to travel and present papers at national scientific meetings (Sigma Xi, ABRCMS or AAAS).

The MARC research training elements are integrated with the undergraduate curriculum and include 1) research conducted under the direction of UCI faculty mentors receiving 4 units per quarter during the academic year, 2) individual career and academic advising, 3) a research faculty seminar series, 4) a journal club to introduce scholars to critical reading of current biomedical literature, 5) a workshop on principles, instrumentation and techniques used in biomedical research, 6) preparation to present scientific papers at national conferences, 7) a course designed to write a paper to be published in the faculty-refereed undergraduate research journal and/or a peer-reviewed journal, 8) GRE preparation and 9) individual advice during the graduate education application process.

ELIGIBILITY

MARC scholars must be underrepresented minority UCI undergraduate junior and senior students majoring in the sciences, with a GPA of at least 3.0, with an expressed interest in a career in biomedical research and intentions to pursue graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or other Ph.D./combined professional. Underrepresented minority groups are Black African-Americans, Chicano/Latino or Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, and Natives of the U.S. Pacific Islands.

The individuals to be trained under the MARC program must be citizens or permanent residents at the time of the appointment. Students with labor permits are not eligible for participation in the MARC Program.

RESEARCH TRAINING AREAS

Biomedical research includes such areas as cell biology, biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, genetics, etc., and behavioral research as well as the more quantitative areas, such as mathematics, physics, chemistry and computer sciences, necessary to analyze biological phenomena. MARC scholars may choose their research advisor among faculty in the School of Biological Sciences, College of Medicine, School of Physical Sciences, School of Engineering and School of Information and Computer Science that are conducting biomedical research.

BENEFITS, RESPONSIBILITIES AND TIMETABLE

The period of appointment to the MARC program is two years at the junior/senior level. Appointments of less than nine months are not allowable. Failure to comply with the program requirements in full (see table below) or graduation will result in termination prior to the two-year maximum term.

MARC is a merit-based fellowship program, and thus students are encouraged to apply to MARC regardless of their financial aid status. In most cases, individuals receiving other forms of financial aid are still eligible for MARC. However, since MARC is a National Research Service Award (NRSA) funded by a training grant from the National Institute of Health (NIH), individuals receiving certain other federally-funded grants or fellowships (e.g. Truman, other NIH fellowships) may not be eligible for funding by this program. The program administration will determine whether or not there are financial aid conflicts that render an individual ineligible for financial support by the program.

Concurrent Awards: A MARC traineeship may not be held concurrently with another Federally sponsored traineeship (e.g. CAMP, MBRS, REU) or a similar training award that provides a stipend or otherwise duplicates provisions of the NRSA. However, an individual may accept concurrent educational benefits from the Department of Veterans' Affairs (e.g., G.I. Bill) and Federal loans.

Stipend Supplementation: An institution is permitted to provide funds to a MARC trainee in addition to the stipend paid by the NIH. Such additional amounts may be in the form of augmented stipends (supplementation) or compensation for services. Supplementation, when provided, does not obligate the fellow in any way. However, no Federal funds may be used for supplementation. Under no circumstances may the conditions of stipend supplementation for services interfere with, detract from, or prolong the fellow's approved NRSA training program.

MARC scholars are expected to engage in research, under the mentorship of a UCI faculty, for 15 hours per week during the academic year and 40 hours per week during the summer.

MARC trainees are required to spend at least one summer at an extramural site for a research training experience (funded by the MARC program). Foreign sites are not allowed.

The following timetable shows the MARC activities and requirements:

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