This year the University of Guam sent its first cohort of students to the Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity Enhancing Cross-disciplinary Infrastructure Training at Oregon (BUILD EXITO) orientation at Portland State University from June 13 to 17.

UOG is a partner in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) BUILD EXITO at Portland State University grant, an initiative that aims to enhance training in biomedical research through increased diversity of students and increased integration of research and teaching, said Dean of the School of Health Dr. Margaret Hattori-Uchima.

“These are our researchers of tomorrow,” Hattori-Uchima said. “This opportunity allows these students to participate in hands-on research training and experience, be paired with faculty and research mentors, and participate in summer research internships.”

For the next three years, Hattori-Uchima hopes to develop a new cohort of students to participate in the four-year long program.

In the first year, BUILD Scholars participate in the one-week summer orientation in Oregon. In the second year, students participate in a one-month Gateway to Summer Research Training opportunity with a UOG faculty member, which pays up to $1,200.

In their junior and senior years, scholars continue working with their local UOG or community mentor in a Research Learning Community where they will have up to 10 hours per week of paid research experience during the academic year and up to $3,600 for a three-month summer research opportunity. Hattori-Uchima said they will also get support to travel to a pre-identified conference at least once during the extent of the program.

Meet the BUILD Scholars

This year, freshman Chelsea Fama, sophomore Tristan Paulino, and sophomore Victoria Flisco were chosen as the first cohort of BUILD scholars from the University—each from varying disciplines.

“This is what I love about BUILD,” Hattori-Uchima said. “It’s cross-disciplinary, the focus is on any student regardless of major.

Flisco, a biology major, said she chose to become a BUILD Scholar because it helps lay the foundation for her future career goals, which include becoming a medical doctor and scientific researcher.

“BUILD will guide me in learning the fundamentals of conducting research,” Flisco said. “The program will help me in finding research and career mentors, and I will be able to immerse myself in certain fields of research that will lead me to choosing the specific fields I would like to concentrate in. I want to return here to Guam after attaining my degrees to practice and serve the people to help positively impact the island especially in regards to the health disparities prevalent throughout.”

Becoming a BUILD Scholar also opened up a world of new career paths for Fama who has yet to declare a major. 

“Science had not been a field of study that I saw myself in,” Fama said. “However, a career in research influences public policy, social and economic change, as well as advancements in health; something that would greatly affect small island communities such as Guam and the CNMI. BUILD EXITO's primary goals were to bring opportunity and diversify the research workforce. This was something I wanted to become a part of.”

Paulino, an agriculture major, hopes to use his experiences at BUILD to one day contribute to the bio-medical world through his research. He said that he’s thankful that UOG offers an opportunity like this that will help set up his future.

“A common notion persists that in order to be successful you would need to leave off island for a quality education,” Paulino said. “However, without attending the University of Guam, I probably would not be a part of a great program like BUILD. UOG has provided me the stepping stone and opportunity to make my future.”