A biology professor at Syracuse University has been awarded a grant to increase enrollment and retention of underrepresented minorities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs at SU and Onondaga Community College.

Jason Wiles said he was invited to apply for the Early-concept Grants for Exploratory Research by the National Science Foundation, whose undergraduate education division works to recruit talented individuals into STEM disciplines. The grant totals $169,734, according to an SU news release.

Wiles, who also teaches in the earth sciences and science teaching departments at SU, said he believes this issue is important since the amount of diversity currently in STEM fields in the United States does not correlate with the diversity of the entire population.

“Do a Google image search of just scientist and you’ll see these old guys with crazy hair and test tubes,” Wiles said. “There’s not much diversity in the panel of images that will come up.”

Wiles added that he tried to look for programs within the NSF that matched his efforts to increase diversity in STEM fields.

“It’s something that I care about in part because I do these introductory courses, and we have a high amount of diversity in these courses,” he said. “(But) the highest drop-off is in the introductory courses at the next level.”

The grant will go toward expanding a peer-led team learning initiative in STEM courses at SU, Wiles said. Under this program, minority students who perform well in an introductory STEM course will be asked to serve as mentors to future students taking the course who are also from underrepresented minority groups, he said.

“We have so many brilliant, capable students coming in and students who have all kinds of ideas what they want to do,” Wiles said. “If we combine them with peer leaders with a similar background, in a leadership role in the science field, maybe they’ll start thinking, ‘Hey, you know, I could be in this field.’”

Peer-led team learning not only provides role models, but can also provide tutoring and extra assistance early on in the major to promising underclassmen, which can also boost STEM retention, he said.

“You’re not going to do well in the major if you didn’t do well in the foundational course that’s a prerequisite for everything else,” Wiles said.

The grant will go towards hiring a post-doctoral researcher who will run the peer-led team learning program, Wiles said, as well as other costs like allowing students to travel for the program. A peer-led team learning initiative program was previously run in biology by a Ph.D. student but did not continue after she graduated.

Tamara Hamilton, the co-principal investigator for the NSF’s Upstate Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation program, said she thinks Wiles’ program will provide more opportunities to students on campus.

LSAMP works with school districts like the Syracuse City School District in efforts to recruit students of diverse backgrounds early on into STEM disciplines before starting college, Hamilton said. She has worked with Wiles through the LSAMP program and will help with the implementation of the EAGER grant, she said.

“If it allows the LSAMP students to have new opportunities such as building up professional and leadership skills, then it’s an excellent opportunity for the students,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton said she believes more diversity in STEM fields can benefit the nation in today’s global society.

“If you look in the news there is still a need — (President Barack) Obama earmarked money toward STEM education,” she said. “In order for the U.S. to compete globally, there’s a need for diverse students to seek these positions.”

Published on September 8, 2014 at 12:01 am

Contact Kristen: kaeskow@syr.edu