Minority Access to Research Careers
program exposes students to the type of research and skills that will
help them enter and succeed in graduate programs.
September 29, 2005
By Pamela McLaren
Two students are learning what it takes to
be research scholars as they probe DNA replication related to antibiotics
and twin behavior under a federally funded program that encourages
them to consider futures as scientists.
Timothy Richard Parenteau, a junior biological science
major, and Kevin Chavarria, a senior psychology major, are the latest
scholars in Cal State Fullerton’s Minority
Access to Research Careers (MARC) program.
The program was established 10 years ago with funding
from the National Institutes of Health. This year, the program is
supported with a $247,080 NIH grant.
The goal, says Amybeth Cohen, associate professor
of biological science and MARC director, is to expose undergraduate
students to the type of research and skills that will help them
enter and succeed in graduate programs. “The idea is to give
them the preparation to compete for slots at the top schools in
the country.”
Chavarria has always been interested in conducting
psychology research, so the opportunity to join the MARC program
seemed fortuitous. He is the first student outside the College of
Natural Sciences and Mathematics ever selected for the program.
Earlier this year, he began working with Nancy Segal, professor
of psychology, on a study on how fraternal and identical twins perceive
their twin sibling’s children in various aspects of their
lives.
“I like the experience, and have learned a
lot about research,” said Chavarria, who already has attended
two conferences and will be preparing posters and writing papers
to present at future conferences. “I know now that I definitely
want a future in research and will be looking into a doctoral program
geared toward that.”
“It’s great to have a bright young, enthusiastic
undergraduate interested in research,” said Segal. “I
get great pleasure in being able to share my experiences and help
Kevin toward a terrific career.”
Parenteau has been working in the lab of Marcelo
Tolmasky, professor of biological science. As part of his research,
Parenteau is watching the replication of antibiotic DNA using equipment
that photographs DNA in real-time.
“So far I have been learning about the equipment
and drawing samples,” said Parenteau, who plans to specialize
in medical research. “You learn different concepts in class
and hear about their applications, but you can’t really visualize
it until you’re in the lab, doing the research. It makes everything
come to life.”
The MARC program “offers students the opportunity
to do research and not have to work [off-campus] or worry about
funding,” said Tolmasky. “These kinds of programs are
great.”
Chavarria and Parenteau join continuing MARC scholars
Diego Miranda and Paul Gerard. The two biological science seniors
spent the summer working in labs in England, gaining experience
in and exposure to the atmosphere of a doctoral-level research facility.
Miranda, who works with Tolmasky, and Gerard, who conducts research
under the direction of Cohen, are expected to graduate next year.
Students selected for the program must carry a minimum
3.2 grade-point average and be interested in research as a career,
said Cohen.
Program participants are required to complete specific
science courses, conduct an average of 15 hours of research per
week during both semesters of the academic year and full time for
eight weeks in the summer, conduct a specific research project that
will culminate in a senior thesis, and defend their findings before
a thesis committee at the end of the program.
MARC scholars attend weekly seminars where they read
scientific papers, learn how to develop research presentations and
hear from guest speakers they invite to the sessions. They also
are expected to attend and deliver presentations on their work at
local and national professional meetings.
The program provides each student with an annual
stipend of about $10,000, as well as funding for travel, supplies
and materials. MARC also pays participants’ school fees and
provides a GRE preparation course.
“It’s a lot of hard work,” said
Cohen, who has mentored five previous scholars. “We expect
a lot of them. But if they rise to the challenge, they do well.”
Since 1995, 23 students have completed the two-year
program and gone on to graduate and doctoral programs at UC Irvine,
UC San Diego and USC.
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