The Undergraduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement at Fort Lewis College (FLC U-RISE, formerly MARC) is funded by a research training grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, one of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The objective of this honors undergraduate research training program is to prepare underrepresented students majoring in scientific disciplines to pursue Ph.D.s and long term careers in biomedical or behavioral science research. Faculty mentors at FLC train a small group of highly qualified junior and senior underrepresented students in an honors program strong in research opportunities and science curriculum.
The primary goal of the U-RISE Program at FLC is to provide support to undergraduate students, who are underrepresented in the biomedical sciences, to improve preparation for graduate training in a research based Ph.D. program. Students apply to the U-RISE program during the second semester of the Sophomore year, and if accepted, students begin working with a Research Mentor during a summer research experience between the Sophomore and Junior years and continue in the U-RISE Program for the reminder of the Junior and Senior years.
Juniors and Seniors chosen for this two-year Research Trainee Program become active members of a scientific research community. This valuable opportunity, rarely afforded to undergraduates, is the best preparation for graduate training and a career in biomedical and behavioral science research.
At the center of the U-RISE experience is research. U-RISE Scholars will work on faculty-directed research projects about 12 hours per week during the academic year and 40 hours per week during the summer. The capstone of the U-RISE Program is a summer research experience at a research intensive university.
Additionally, U-RISE Scholars will participate in activities that enrich their research experiences, workshops designed to prepare them for graduate school and careers in biomedical and behavioral science research, and participate in peer recruiting activities.