Students prepare for overseas research projects

As a junior, Lauren Teverbaugh has a good idea what she wants to do with her life. She's interested in child psychology or psychiatry, and she expects that after finishing her bachelor's, she'll pursue an advanced degree.

Still, Teverbaugh looks forward to an upcoming summer research project in Ghana as an opportunity to get more clarity on exactly what suits her.

She is one of 24 U-M students selected to participate in the Minority International Research Training (MIRT) program this summer, examining issues of children's health alongside more seasoned investigators. The program is designed to encourage underrepresented minority students to pursue advanced degrees and careers in biomedical and behavioral research.

It appears the program is reaching its goals—97 percent of the 174 students who have participated during its nine-year existence are still in school or have completed the advanced degree for which they aimed, MIRT Director Betsy Lozoff told the latest group of students at a reception Jan. 27.

Lozoff said African Americans, American Indians and Hispanics have increased their participation in professional degree programs, but they remain underrepresented in research. "Adequate minority representation among investigators is essential for thorough understanding and innovative solutions" to health concerns facing racial and ethnic minority groups, says the rationale statement for the research program.

Working with faculty advisors, students will go to China, Chile, Ghana, Jamaica, and Durban, South Africa. Students applied in the fall and were selected shortly before the end of the semester. Between now and their summer departures, they will meet regularly to build skills in everything from scientific research methods to foreign languages to cultural expectations.

Typically the training program sends 16 students abroad. However, last year's applications were due on the heels of Sept. 11, and far fewer students felt confident traveling internationally, Lozoff said. The program was able to carry over last year's funding, allowing more students to participate.

For Leslie Babich, a sophomore studying biopsychology, the chance to do research in China is thrilling.

"It's just starting to be more real," she said at the reception. Babich has participated actively in research since arriving at U-M, engaging in the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, but a summer working with human patients will give her new experiences. And when she returns, she still has half her undergraduate experience left, giving her ample time to let this summer shape her educational and career paths.

For more on the MIRT Program, conducted by the Center for Human Growth and Development, visit http://www.umich.edu/~chgdwww/MIRT/MIRT.html.

The program is supported by the Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health.
Undergraduates selected for the program this summer are: Taniform Abongwa, senior, cellular molecular biology; Leslie Babich, sophomore, biopsychology; Brandi Basket, senior, Spanish; Nina Butler, sophomore, biopsychology; Christina Chavez, junior, sociology; Denise Zakira Fair, sophomore, psychology, pre-med; Kristen Harris, senior, African American studies, biochemistry; Androni Henry, sophomore, environmental geology, biology; Mari Kawamura, junior, health & poverty; Kenneth Matthew, sophomore, cellular molecular biology; Ijeoma Nnodim, senior, African American studies, pre-med; Tracy Orr, junior, psychology, African American studies; Lauren Teverbaugh, junior, psychology, African American studies.

Graduate students tapped are: Yvette Clinton, third year, Ph.D., developmental psychology; Jessica Holmes, first year, master of public health; Glenetta Hudson, second year, Ph.D., clinical psychology; Portia Jackson, first year, master of public health; Shani McLoyd, first year, master of social work; Ifeoma Okafor, first year, Ph.D.; Charu Stokes, first year, master of social work; Joan Wright, first year, Ph.D.

Medical students taking part in MIRT, all in their first year of medical school, are: Opoku Adjapong, Erica Just-Polanco and Ivy Kuofie.

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