Broadening participation: 20-year outcomes from undergraduate science training programs.

Abstract

Science thrives on diverse perspectives, yet women and scientists from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups remain underrepresented in doctoral-level biomedical research careers. Despite decades of investment in training initiatives, rigorous long-term evidence of their effectiveness is limited. We conducted a 20-year prospective, matched-control longitudinal study to test whether participation in two National Institutes of Health undergraduate programs, the Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) and Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC), increases doctoral (Ph.D.) completion. Using propensity score matching on 11 baseline characteristics, we followed 743 students from 2005 to 2025. Participants were more than twice as likely as matched peers to earn a Ph.D., with effects remaining robust after adjusting for prior academic achievement and career intentions. These findings demonstrate that sustained undergraduate training programs can durably expand participation in the biomedical research workforce.