Impact and Outcomes of the Oklahoma IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence Summer Undergraduate Research Program

Abstract

Participating in research under the guidance of faculty mentors can increase undergraduate students' skills, knowledge, and confidence in conducting scientific research and pursing a scientific career. The Oklahoma IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (OK-INBRE) in the US state of Oklahoma has established an infrastructure to develop future researchers and healthcare professionals by providing students with summer internships. However, long-term benefits have not typically been well quantified, and most prior investigations examining benefits and outcomes of undergraduate summer research experiences have been descriptive and/or observational in nature. To assess OK-INBRE summer program participants, educational and career outcomes were systematically tracked. Data for evaluation included 1) primary sources containing responses to learning surveys from OK-INBRE and national cohorts over a three-year period, and 2) secondary sources from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (OSRHE), that track educational outcomes of Oklahoma students over a 15-year period. Frequency statistics were compiled and bivariate analyses were conducted to examine participant academic and career outcomes. Survey responses reported higher satisfaction in various dimensions of learning among OK-INBRE students than among corresponding national cohorts, particularly on dimensions of knowledge, skills, and understanding of sciences. The OSRHE data showed that, compared with those in the control group, there was a 100% increase in OK-INBRE participants who enrolled in or had completed a professional degree (e.g., MD/DO) and a 175% increase in students attending a biomedical science graduate program. These findings demonstrate the contribution of the OK-INBRE program in promoting science education and professions.

FIGURE 1

Comparison of academic progress and outcomes between INBRE participants and the control group. The graph shows the percent of students enrolled in the OK-INBRE Summer Research Program and in the control group who were progressing in or completed different degrees. The difference across degree categories and between INBRE and control groups was statistically significant at p=0.0015. INBRE = IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence; AS/AA = completed associates degree; BS = completed bachelor of science; BA = completed other bachelor degree; MD/DO = enrolled in or completed MD/DO degree; MS/PHD = enrolled in or completed biomedical/science graduate degree; HPD = enrolled in or completed health-related professional degree; UDG = enrolled in undergraduate degree; NSD = enrolled in nonscience degree.

FIGURE 2

Advanced degree enrollment. The graph shows the percent of INBRE students and students in the control group who enrolled in advanced degrees in the sciences, medicine, or other health sciences among the subsample of 269 students who completed their first post-secondary degree. The difference across degrees and between the INBRE and control groups was statistically significant at p=0.05. INBRE = IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence; MD/DO = enrolled in or completed MD/DO degree; MS/PHD = enrolled in or completed biomedical/science graduate degree.

FIGURE 3

Intention to pursue advanced degree. Comparison between the percent of OK-INBRE participants who indicated plans to pursue a PhD, MD, or joint MD/PHD degree and that of students in the national cohorts in 2015, 2016, and 2017. INBRE = IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence.