About the TSU-LEAP Symposium

For COVID19 & Pandemic Responsiveness TSU LEAP Program Administration TSU Institutional Oversight: Omonike Olaleye, Ph.D. MPH TSU Program Manager: Karen Stewart LEAP Ambassadors, Graduate Research Assistants and Clinical/Research Fellows

OVERVIEW: The Texas Southern University Leadership, Education, and Advancement in Undergraduate Research Pathways (TSU-LEAP) will provide TSU students with the opportunity to participate in of hands-on research experience under the mentorship and supervision by TSU faculty members. The program will run from March 24 - November 11, 2022. Students selected for TSU - LEAP will participate in cutting-edge research in five different pathways:

1. Business, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics (B.E.A.M.C) 2. HEALTH Disparities & Minority Health (H.E.A.L. MH) 3. Social & Behavioral Sciences, including Social & Environmental Justice, Equity & Policy (S.B.S.) 4. Drug Discovery & Development (3D) 5. Artificial Intelligence & Computational Modeling (A.I.M.) 6. Maternal & Child Health (M.C.H.) 7. Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics (S.T.E.M.)

PURPOSE: The goal of the TSU - LEAP program is to foster and enhance undergraduate student research mentoring for pandemic responsiveness through mentoring using a collaborative approach in an innovative and transformative research environment. The TSU - LEAP is a structured student-centered program encompassing: leadership, education, research advancement, and community engagement and outreach. TSU students will work collaboratively with faculty, peer graduate mentors, and postdoctoral fellows/research scientist. TSU - LEAP students will be selected on a competitive basis (GPA, level of research interest and other academic performance metrics).

PROGRAM COMPONENTS

STIPEND: Students selected for TSU-LEAP will be supported with a stipend through funding provided by the Division of Research & Innovation at TSU.

MENTORING: Each TSU - LEAP trainee will be assigned a mentoring team, composed of faculty, postdoctoral fellow/ research scientist and graduate student. The mentoring team will offer guidance in navigating through research pathways, career opportunities and graduate/professional school applications.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROJECT: Each TSU-LEAP trainee will participate in a practical community engagement and outreach project.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Students will receive interprofessional training that consists of journal club/ seminar sessions lead by post-doctoral fellows, research scientists, graduate students, and/or faculty to expose them to current/emerging topics within the research pathways. Students will also be trained in research writing, scientific communication, and presentation skills. In addition, these training sessions will allow for interdisciplinary networking opportunities.

TSU - LEAP LEADERSHIP SUMMITS (I & II) : Students will participate in a 3-day leadership boot camp consisting of the following leadership training workshops: entrepreneurship, resume writing, interview skills, team science, DISC personality assessment to help improve teamwork, productivity, team building, and professionalism, cultural sensitivity and branding.

TSU - LEAP UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM: Students will participate in a capstone and collaborative symposium to present a culmination of their research work and community engagement.

TSU – LEAP OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS IN ALL MAJORS

The TSU-LEAP program will target students enrolled in programs in the TSU colleges below: • College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences • College of Science Engineering and Technology • College of Education • Jesse H. Jones School of Business • School of Communication • College of Liberal Arts and Behavioral Sciences • Thurgood Marshall School of Law • Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs • Thomas F. Freeman Honors College

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• Must be a TSU student.

• Undergraduate students in any major. • Priority will be given to racial/ethnic underrepresented minorities that demonstrate academic success, leadership potential, research interest, and plan to pursue graduate/professional studies. • Minimum of 2.75 GPA on a 4.0 point scale will be required for acceptance into the program.