What should be done in research and education to prepare students for the contemporary workforce? The directors of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s 10 university-wide research institutes say that blending classroom instruction with interdisciplinary research is key, according to a recent op-ed in Crain’s Chicago Business.
The authors of the op-ed, including IHSI Director Stephen Boppart, offer that the research institute, a community of practice that is problem-oriented and designed to address the grand challenges of our time, is the future of job readiness and professional preparation for students. The research education programs offered by the Illinois research institutes help students develop the interdisciplinary thinking they will need to navigate the complex social and economic systems they will join, and eventually lead.
According to the authors, “the difference that the interdisciplinary research institute model makes is access to problem-solving communities and to the sense of shared obligation they cultivate.”
IHSI offers three unique programs that help orient undergraduate students toward addressing problems through collaborative, solution-oriented methods: the Community-Academic Scholars Program, Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship at Mayo Clinic, and Health Equity Research Experience at Mayo Clinic. Each program is open to students in any major, conducted over the summer, and includes a stipend to cover living expenses.
The Community-Academic Scholars (CAS) program empowers undergraduates to work with an academic mentor and community organization on a research collaboration designed to directly benefit local community members. The program supports students and researchers from nearly every major academic unit on campus, often matching students and researchers from different units. Scholars are encouraged to use their unique viewpoints and backgrounds to advance community-engaged research in a meaningful way.
“The CAS program brings students out of traditional research labs and into communities, said Celina Trujilo, a research development manager at IHSI and one of the CAS program directors. “Everyone involved – students, academic mentors, community partners, and community members – benefit from each others’ experiences and perspectives.”
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) at Mayo Clinic invites students from across the nation to become fully immersed in the research and culture of a major medical center. Through the Mayo Clinic & Illinois Alliance for Technology-Based Healthcare, up to seven spots in the SURF program are reserved specifically for Illinois students, who consistently bring valuable innovative perspectives to biomedical research.
The Health Equity Research Experience (HERE) at Mayo Clinic provides Illinois students with a unique opportunity to examine health equity through hands-on research. Students receive mentorship from Mayo Clinic researchers and physicians while exploring how a research career in health equity allows them to give back to their communities in ways they may not have otherwise considered.
“Most people recognize Mayo Clinic as one of the top healthcare institutions in the world, but many don’t realize the depth and breadth of research happening there,” said LeaAnn Carson, a clinical partnerships manager at IHSI. “The experiences our students have at Mayo Clinic really shape the way they think about the world as they help address some of society’s major health challenges.”
In addition to the three undergraduate research experiences, IHSI also offers graduate fellowships for technology-based healthcare through the Mayo Clinic & Illinois Alliance, as well as opportunities for graduate health researchers to develop science communication skills through the Community Seminar Series in partnership with University of Illinois Extension.
Across all programs, students learn to approach research problems using diverse perspectives, including their own viewpoints and life experiences. They not only consider knowledge from different disciplines, but also integrate the perspectives of clinicians, patients, community organizations, and community members. This helps foster a mindset that prioritizes health equity, an essential and foundational component to improving personal, public, and planetary health.
To ensure all Illinois students have an opportunity to pursue these opportunities, IHSI works to get the word out to the tens of thousands of students who may be eligible to apply. However, not all students have considered that a research opportunity could be a good fit for them, or that these programs are even designed for them.
This is why university-wide collaboration is essential to making these programs successful. IHSI relies on the partnership of the many units educating and supporting students to make interdisciplinary undergraduate research experiences accessible and beneficial for both students and faculty and staff researchers.
The potential payoff for students is immense. Many students from the SURF program, for example, have pursued additional education and careers at Mayo Clinic. Community-Academic Scholars often continue working with their academic mentors beyond the duration of the summer program.
The op-ed authors notice similar results across interdisciplinary research education programs.
“Look to the students who’ve had that experience to see the impact that a competitive edge in interdisciplinary research skill can have right out of gate.”