Backgroud

In recent years, Puerto Rico and its public university system, the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) have received three assaults – devastating hurricanes that caused catastrophic damage and a humanitarian crisis, a series of earthquakes that caused havoc and destruction in the southern region and finally, the Covid pandemic. Their effects have been felt by the entire island population, however, one could argue that college undergraduates have been primarily impacted. While courses and other activities might have continued under harsh conditions, research and research training experiences for this group diminished substantially or completely vanished. 

Because of these catastrophes, many students have completed (or are completing) their B.S. without the opportunity to engage in research and fully develop their research potentials to be better prepared for a career in STEM. At the UPR Rio Piedras Campus (UPR-RP), undergraduate research participation in biological research decreased 40%, as determined by registration in the “Introduction to Research” course where students get credits to do research with in-house mentors. Similarly, students in other states and territories are suffering from lack of research and professional development opportunities because of Covid- 19 and other climate-related catastrophes in their regions (fires in western states, hurricanes in the south and flooding in the northeast). 

Research and Mentoring for Postbaccalaureates in Biological Sciences (RaMP-UP)

RaMP-UP program at theUniversity of Puerto Rico aims to provide 30 students (10 student per year) with the opportunity to “catch-up” and gain meaningful experiences in research and professional development within a supportive research environment. Achieving this goal will have a huge impact on the life of the trainees and consequently increase the number of students from historically underrepresented groups in science to continue STEM careers and integrate into the STEM workforce.

The program have assembled a group of researchers in biological and computational areas that are eager to provide research experience and direct mentoring to student participants. See the list of mentors and co-mentors here.

Mision:

RaMP-UP Program aims to provide students that have completed their B.S. degrees with the opportunity to gain meaningful experiences in research and professional development within a supportive research environment.

Vision:

A huge impact on the life of the trainees and consequently increase the number of students from historically underrepresented groups in science to continue STEM careers and integrate into the STEM workforce.

Objectives:

  • Attract recent graduates in Biology and related STEM disciplines to perform interdisciplinary biological research.
  • Provide students with a “hands-on” in depth research experience.
  • Present a series of activities aimed at developing participants’ research skills and professional tools needed to succeed in future STEM careers.
  • RaMP-UP scholars acquire the necessary knowledge, mentoring and skills to successfully continue their education toward MS or PhD degrees in STEM fields, or other research-related STEM career pathways.

We have established a network that includes:

  • Faculty contacts in primary teaching universities that will promote our program and serve as liaison between the program and prospective candidates. 
  • Mainland institutions interested in recruiting promising students to their graduate programs. 
  • A group of active researchers in biological areas eager to provide research experience and direct mentoring to student participants.
  • Additional investigators from other natural sciences department that will serve as co-mentors.