UTSA MBRS Junior/Senior Programs
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 Junior/Senior MBRS-RISE - Activities and Resources


Representative Activities for All MBRS-RISE Students

Jr/Sr level MBRS-RISE students participate in diverse activities, designed to assist them towards successful careers in the research sciences.  In the process, they...

Develop the credentials and experience needed for doctoral program success

Build professional skills needed during graduate school and beyond

Learn about the various fields and career paths that they can pursue 

Network with scientists from around the country and learn about opportunities
Laboratory Research:    

Of primary importance to the MBRS-RISE Programs is the hands-on laboratory research experience in a UTSA or UTHSCSA laboratory.  Students work in the laboratory, preferably on their own research projects, the complexity of which depends on student level and experience.  They are responsible for this project and progress from learning techniques to having intimate knowledge and understanding of the science and ideas underlying their work.  In the process, they develop a relationship with a research mentor who will be instrumental in writing recommendation letter needed for graduate school or beyond admission.  Students are integral members of the laboratory, participating in laboratory meetings and performing routine laboratory responsibilities as assigned by their mentor.

  

Technology Laboratory:

MBRS-RISE participants also take various classes, generally held in the MBRS-RISE Communication Technology Laboratory and Classroom (Tech Lab).  RISE, MARC, and other student and faculty researchers have free access to this laboratory, where they can work not only on their projects, but also in any schoolwork that they need to get done.  We encourage students to use these facilities for study groups and to create and practice any presentations that they may have to give.  By doing so, they also gain experience in the use of state-of-the-art presentation and instructional equipment. 

 

  
Program Sponsored Courses:

The RISE and MARC program offers classes for both undergraduate and graduate students.  Undergraduate courses include the RISE/MARC Colloquium and Research Career Development.  Graduate courses include the RISE Seminar and Survival Skills for Scientists. 

Undergraduate: 

BIO 4972 - MBRS-RISE Colloquium (1 semester) - A combined course that introduces professional development topics related to presentations, research-related skills, and several other topics.  Combined with RISE Seminar course.  Seminars are followed by a Lunch with the Speaker activity.

BIO 4953 - Research Careers for Scientists (1 semester) - In this course, undergraduate students learn about career paths available in the Biosciences, how to successfully find and apply to graduate programs, explore various career paths, and learn basic research ethics. 

Doctoral:

Survival Skills Course (Bio 5972 or Chem 4972):  The Survival Skills course, taught by Dr. Gail Taylor, provides a semester of intensive professional development activities for Doctoral students.  Activities are designed to will enhance their ability to understand and present their research and operate professionally in a scientific environment.

Grant Writing for Doctoral Students:  All RISE Doctoral students will participate in a grant writing course, at the end of which they will submit a grant to a national granting agency, the NIH or NSF. 

 

Lunch with the Speaker:

Following the seminar,  students meet for lunch with with the seminar speaker, providing networking opportunities as well as a chance to interact with other MBRS-RISE and MARC U*STAR students.

National and Local Conferences:

One of the more exciting activities in which our students participate is attendance of national scientific conferences.  Ph.D. students work with their mentors to select the conference that they believe would be most effective for their development as scientists.  Undergraduates first attend the the SACNAS or ABRCMS conferences.  These two conferences focus on scientific development and feature poster and oral presentations, professional development activities, and advertisement of various graduate and summer program options by schools from throughout the country.   Subsequently, undergraduates may choose to attend national professional scientific conferences with their mentors and lab mates.  Students may also participate in various local or regional poster presentations.

Annual Symposium

The first UTSA MBRS-RISE/MARC-U*STAR Research Symposium took place in Fall 2004 in the Loeffler room of the Biosciences Building.  The success of this event has lead program staff to make it an annual event, and even experiment with hosting a symposium each semester.  During the symposia, MBRS-RISE (Minority Biomedical Research Support - Research Initiative in scientific enhancement) and MARC-U*STAR (Minority Access to Research Careers - Undergraduate Student Training for Academic Research) students give poster and oral presentations.  They present research which they performed at UTSA, UTHSCSA, and various institutions around the country.  

Hop to the Symposium Page!

Awards Celebrations

Finally...each Spring and Fall, we host an awards ceremony.  Here we both honor our graduates and celebrate the end of the semester.  Students from all levels participate and get to know one another while playing games and eating.  Program and students celebrate our newest graduates!

 

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The University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249-1644, (210) 458-4011 
 Identity | POLICIES | EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS | REQUIRED LINKS