Make Your MARC as We RISE into Research

By Mariana Suarez-Martinez

As one of the country’s earliest implementers of the MARC (Maximizing Access to Research Careers) and the RISE (Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement) programs, UTSA is a known innovator in creating undergraduate research opportunities and encouraging students’ personal and professional growth. Since 1979, MARC and the precursor of RISE have paved the way of UTSA’s undergraduate-inclusive research culture and have spurred the development of the university’s Office of Undergraduate Research.

this award due in part to the strength and effectiveness of its most recent MARC program: 97% of the 31 participants who graduated began graduate-level education, and 87% of these pursued a Ph.D.

MARC will continue as a training program centered on guiding and supporting undergraduate students seeking a doctorate in the biomedical or behavioral sciences. All MARC trainees are admitted to the UTSA Honors College and have the option of completing Honors College requirements. RISE, which funded both undergraduate and Ph.D. student research, will spend its remaining funds by Spring 2024, supporting its final cohort of undergraduates.

Although UTSA has long hosted both programs, recent policy changes at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) limited all institutions to just one program and required that these programs reorganize into a new structure. With UTSA’s recent designation as an R1 top-tier research university, and the associated increases in prestigious NIH research funding, UTSA became eligible for only MARC. UTSA submitted a new grant proposal for a new program that competed for funding against the top schools in the nation and was awarded the program. UTSA received

At the same time, the College of Sciences is pleased to announce the recent award of a new Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) grant that will replace RISE. IMSD will support future UTSA doctoral students in the biomedical and behavioral sciences in select programs in the College of Sciences; College for Health, Community and Policy (HCAP); and the Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design. IMSD is awarded to institutions with high NIH research funding and is a testament to UTSA’s high-caliber research programs and the success of its RISE program and trainees. IMSD is UTSA’s first Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) (T32) program, which is designed to prepare qualified doctoral students for careers that have a significant impact on the health-related research needs of the nation.

“Major thanks and gratitude to the many faculty, staff and administrators who were essential for the development of the program, and to the UTSA La Raza Faculty and Administrators Association for their enthusiasm for our proposal,” said Edwin Barea-Rodriguez, program director for IMSD and MARC.

Students develop more than just research skills in the new MARC program. “Students put a heavy focus on academics to graduate, but what are those essential life skills necessary to succeed in life?” said Barea-Rodriguez. The MARC program helps students engage in intentional and personal growth and development, gain leadership skills, increase financial literacy, form beneficial budgeting habits, and learn how to present themselves professionally. Both MARC and the IMSD program help students find their strengths and develop confidence as individuals, and the programs also provide students with the opportunity to present their work at conferences every semester and to participate in networking events.

MARC provides a monthly stipend, funds part of trainees’ tuition and can provide $1,000 toward conference travel. MARC students work 15 hours a week in a laboratory of their choice. “Participating in labs helps students gain research experience as well as essential skills including communication, problem-solving, critical thinking and even writing proposals or grants,” said Barea-Rodriguez. “When you work in a lab, you also learn about the culture of science and develop a science identity.”

When a student is admitted to MARC and does not already have a faculty research mentor, MARC provides an extensive list of pre-approved mentors in different fields of interest whom students can contact for potential research opportunities. Each lab’s principal investigator (PI) will work with students’ course schedule to ensure they can dedicate about 15 hours weekly to their research projects. “Make sure to work with your PI to understand the expectations for behavior and work you will be producing and aiding in the lab,” advises Gail Taylor, assistant MARC and IMSD program director.

MARC students also prepare and present a thesis proposal to become distinguished MARC Scholars; when their thesis proposal is approved, they become candidates for doctoral studies. MARC Scholars continue their professional development and are encouraged to mentor less experienced students. MARC Scholars then finish the program as MARC graduates with an Honors distinction in their specific college. MARC trainees are also admitted to the UTSA Honors College and may graduate with Honors distinctions, becoming stronger applicants to doctoral programs.

“As UTSA has grown to Tier One status, so, too, have its programs grown and evolved. But, like UTSA, these new MARC and IMSD programs have great foundations, a culture of student inclusion and success, and hardworking people who will guide the programs and their trainees,” said Taylor. “We predict great things and many years of student support from the new MARC and IMSD programs at UTSA.”