102 CUBE: A Collaborative Undergraduate Biostatistics Experience to Bring Diversity and Awareness to the Field of Collaborative Biostatistics

Abstract

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Despite a steady rise of graduate degrees in biostatistics earned in the US, the percent from minorities remains low. This poster will describe the Collaborative Undergraduate Biostatistics Experience (CUBE), an 8-week program aimed to diversify and bring awareness to the field of collaborative biostatistics, from recruitment through evaluation. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: The CUBE program is funded jointly by the NIH’s NIDA/NIAAA (award number: 1R25DA058482-01) and is designed to give underrepresented minority (URM) undergraduate students in STEM the opportunity to engage in a collaborative biostatistics and health data science experience, along with related professional development activities. The program is built on four pillars: 1) training in introductory biostatistics, 2) training in R programming, 3) professional development, and 4) a collaborative research project addressing research questions in various disciplines. The CUBE program was delivered in the summer of 2022 as a pilot to four URM students at Virginia Tech (VT) and the University of Virginia (UVA), with two at each site. In summer 2023, the program was offered to 5 students (3 VT, 2 UVA). RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: This poster will provide strategies learned over two summers with respect to recruitment and enrollment, along with details on the program content, timeline, and short- and long-term program evaluation metrics (both quantitative and qualitative). The CUBE program was well-received by students participating in summers 2022 and 2023, where improved attitudes towards statistics were demonstrated, and 7 of the total 9 participants (78%) over the past two summers expressed interest in pursuing a graduate degree in biostatistics or a career in quantitative research. Of these 7 students, 1 is currently enrolled in a biostatistics graduate program in the United States. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Results can be used to offer recommendations to leaders in the field on how to establish similar programs seeking to provide a pipeline for equity and diversity in the practice of collaborative biostatistics and health data science.