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By Rebecca Ruiz-McGill,
January 16, 2008

University of Arizona professor Marc E. Tischler is driven to increase the number of underrepresented students pursuing research degrees in the fields of science.

His own research takes a back seat to the effort in which he dedicates his non-teaching time to expanding training opportunities for students in biomedical research.

Tischler, a professor of biochemistry, physiology, and medicine, is the program director of Minority Access to Research Careers, known as MARC, at the UA. The program offers undergraduates training, funding, exposure, experience, mentoring, preparation and higher education contacts to students who have applied and been accepted into the program.

The program is currently actively seeking new applicants with at least a 3.0 GPA who, when accepted, will be introduced to the world of bioscience research during their junior and senior year.

Tischler’s efforts began in the late 1980’s when he became aware of the educational disadvantage underrepresented students faced in the field of science. “It was notable how few underrepresented students entered the field. Many lacked the experience and never had the opportunity of being exposed to laboratory work or its workplace possibilities,” Tischler said.

The MARC program is funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health and subsidizes 11 student research positions, covering 60 to 100 percent of tuition costs. Students are recruited from 11 majors and 10 departments at the UA.

During the student’s first year in the training program, they are partnered with ongoing research opportunities at the UA during the summer. During their second year, the students must apply for summer research opportunities at other institutions around the country and abroad.

“Many of the students entering into the research field have no idea of the research opportunities that are available to them not only here at the UA but at other notable universities. It’s exciting to see them fulfill their potential. One of our Native American students, for example, studied in France at the Pasteur Institute and had the opportunity to name a newly discovered gene which she named using the Navajo Language,” Tischler said.

The students’ summer research training culminates in a showcase of their work at a national conference at the end of their first and second year in the program. The conference experience can be as transforming as the summer training opportunities.

This year, two UA students were honored for the research they presented at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students, known as ABRCMS in Austin, Texas. Jason Espinoza, an undergraduate junior, was recognized for a poster presentation in the cell biological sciences and Stephanie Schnell, an undergraduate senior, was recognized for a poster presentation in the molecular biological sciences. During the four-day conference more than 1,100 students participated in poster and oral presentations in 10 scientific disciplines in the biomedical and behavioral sciences.

Espinoza, a molecular and cellular biology major, said he comes from a family of science and math teachers but until he heard of the MARC program and learned of the applications a research degree affords, he had solely considered studying medicine.

“The best thing about the program has been the opportunity to present at this year’s conference. There are so many graduate schools there recruiting with tremendous research opportunities," Espinoza said.

Tischler said, “The program is fun for me in that I help the students realize and gain the confidence that they can do it – but you can’t do it if you don’t enroll to be a part of the program.”