��Ӱֱ�� is a unique institution in many ways. The majority of students are science majors, and incoming student interest leans heavily toward Medicine and Pharmacy. However, a sizable number of students change their plans while at Xavier and do not pursue these careers, providing a large, untapped pool of scientifically minded talent. In Project PATHWAYS, our goal was to encourage these students to consider careers in biomedical research by providing information about research careers as well as research shadowing experiences to all interested students. Students could apply to participate in mentored research training.

To ensure that all undergraduate students at Xavier had the opportunity to learn about biomedical research careers, annual informational sessions were held. Shortly thereafter, interested students were able to participate in research shadowing. Students were paired with a current undergraduate research student from six academic departments on campus. Shadowing was held from 2015–2022, and 343 students participated.

All undergraduate students pursuing biomedical majors were eligible to apply to become a BUILD Research Student Trainee. The selected students participated in mentored research training for one or two years and also took part in numerous enrichment activities. These student Trainees received a stipend (NIH-mandated rate), and students participating for a second year also received a scholarship of up to 60% of tuition. At its peak, the program served 36 BUILD Trainees at one time. Over the course of the program, 159 undergraduate Trainees participated in mentored research, with 148 Trainees completing all program requirements.

As of 2025, 41 of the Trainees have earned graduate degrees (PhD, MS, MPH), with 33 still in progress; 42 have earned professional degrees (MD, DO, PharmD, DC, PsyD, MSW, MBA, MEd, BSN, PA); and 35 completed other additional training opportunities (certificate programs, BUILD Technician program, PREP programs, etc.).

More Information About the Undergraduate Trainee Experience

Before their initial appointment to the program, the BUILD Trainees participated in a guided mentor-matching process. Students interviewed several potential faculty mentors, and student input was very important in their eventual placement. The mentor-matching process at Xavier evolved over the years to address student suggestions.

Student appointments began in May. During the first summer of research, students registered for a two-credit academic course, Fundamentals of Biomedical Research (RSCH 2000). This course was developed for the BUILD program, borrowing from the , and is now a permanent course at Xavier. Students were provided with training in soft skills that enhanced their research experience. This course brought together the new cohort of BUILD Trainees on a regular basis, building the cohort experience.

Also during the summer, BUILD Trainees participated in a weekly Summer Seminar Series. This gathering was open to all students on campus. BUILD Trainees were required to give a brief, informal overview of their research project. Xavier’s annual Summer Research Symposium provided the Trainees with the opportunity to prepare and present a poster of their work. These activities were important aspects of building the community of researchers for Xavier students.

The Trainees continued their research during the academic year. In addition, Trainees participated in professional development seminars and workshops, largely coordinated by Xavier’s Center for Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity. They were also required to complete ethics training by taking a three-credit ethics course at Xavier, such as Research Ethics or Ethics of Genetic Engineering. Trainees received support to travel to professional conferences to present their research and network. BUILD program staff also provided one-on-one career mentoring and assisted students in articulating their post-graduation plans, including both a first-choice and a back-up plan.

Trainees were eligible to be reappointed for a second year as long as they had not graduated. These Trainees were encouraged to seek an off-campus research experience for their second summer. The majority of these Trainees applied to and were accepted into existing programs, though some Trainees were able to find ad-hoc placements such as with a collaborator of their mentor.

As a culmination of their research experience, Trainees were required to prepare a thesis and give an oral presentation of their work, either at Xavier’s annual Festival of Scholars or another on-campus venue.

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