For students interested in pursuing a career in science, the Sanford Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) was established in 2010 to provide them with hands-on research experience.
As a result, Sanford Health has been able to diversify its staff while also introducing students to the possibility of a career in research.
Sanford is making a concerted effort to bring science and research to the people it serves through SPUR. Students in grades K-12, graduate students, and members of the general public can all participate in these programs in addition to undergraduates.
As the director of higher education at Sanford Research, Lance Lee, Ph.D. has been involved in SPUR’s efforts to make research professions more accessible for over a decade.
Dr. Lee remarked that attracting students from underrepresented backgrounds is a significant aspect of his work. That includes students of color, students with disabilities, students from low-income backgrounds, first-generation college students, and veterans in the armed services.” There are a number of underrepresented students in the sciences. When they represent small colleges, there aren’t a lot of resources available for their work.
Grants from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health help subsidize the undergraduate program. Both organizations, like Sanford Research, place a high priority on diversity. A network of undergraduate, graduate, and Ph.D. students is part of that effort.
As a result of this complete strategy, there is a path to employment.
One of Dr. Lee’s goals is to see students progress through the program in stages. It is our hope that students who participated in the Sanford Program for Undergraduate Research will return to the university as graduate students in PhD programs..” Regardless of where they end up or what career path they choose, we want them to acknowledge that Sanford Research is a wonderful fit for their professional success.”
A good match implies providing students with the tools they require to succeed. In addition to the research lab, this entails creating an environment where students can pursue their academic and professional interests.
Dr. Lee explained that the professional development programs offered by the university assist students find possible career pathways they are interested in and encourage them to pursue them. In order to assist students prepare for their future employment, we want to offer professional training in areas such as communication, writing, and presentation.
Since its inception in 2010, SPUR has received applications from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and several other nations. Its graduates have gone on to get their bachelor’s and master’s degrees and enroll in PhD programs around the United States.
It is time for all research institutes to make a difference, said Dr. Lee. It’s clear that Sanford Research intends to do so.” We’re encouraging the next Nobel Prize winner or Lorraine Cross laureate to come forward. That’s impossible without access to research opportunities.”
