UNION, N.J. — Kean University has been awarded a $1.37 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to establish the Kean U-RISE Trainee Pathway (KUTP), aimed at providing undergraduate STEM students with opportunities in cutting-edge biomedical research.
Beginning this Fall, the KUTP will initiate a five-year program designed to equip a diverse group of undergraduate students with the skills and knowledge necessary for careers in biomedical research.
Associate Dean for Research Derrick Swinton, Ph.D., of The Dorothy and George Hennings College of Science, Mathematics and Technology at Kean University, emphasized the significance of the program as the first of its kind at Kean to focus specifically on guiding students towards advanced degrees in biomedical science.
The KUTP will recruit undergraduate students from various disciplines within Kean University, including biology, biomedicine, biotechnology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, and integrated science, with a special emphasis on underrepresented minority groups and disadvantaged backgrounds.
Students enrolled in the program will commit to pursuing a Ph.D. in a biomedical research field, contributing to Kean University’s efforts to enhance its research profile and attain designation as an R2 research institution.