The National Institute of Mental Health/Career Opportunities in Research (NIMH/COR) training program at the University of New Mexico’s Center on Alcohol, Substance Abuse (CASAA) has received a five-year, $1.39 million grant to continue support of its undergraduate honors training program, a program which got underway more than 15 years ago.
“The aim of the grant is to start research training earlier in a student’s education and to produce dedicated mental health researchers” said Alfredo Aragon, program co-director and sr. research scientist, and a COR postdoctorate graduate. “This honors undergraduate program trains qualified Hispanics, Native Americans, African and Asian Americans and other underserved students in research and mental health and comorbidity.”
The COR program began in 1988 when a decision was made by Dr. Philip May, project director and principal investigator, to pursue a NIMH-Minority Access to Research Careers training grant to further develop both individuals and mental health and co-morbidity research opportunities in New Mexico. Dr. May has been a Professor of Sociology at UNM for over 27 years.
COR has been May’s major teaching responsibility since 1990 and has been committed to the research training and specifically the NIMH/COR program. Recruitment, counseling, research guidance and supervision of students are shared with other faculty including Aragon and Paul Amrhein.
The COR program ensures that students have acquired specific academic skills during their education, an overview of the entire field of mental health research and specific personal resources and attributes qualifying students for graduate school and successful careers in mental health research.
Since the program’s inception, more than 100 students have benefited as part of the highly successful program. Usually, nine students are funded through NIMH, while UNM funds two additional students for a total of 11 each year. Over the years, 80 have been funded through the NIMH, while UNM has funded 20 in the program. The New Mexico program is made up of 80 percent federally recognized minorities and 20 percent non-minority.
“For the entire life of the grant, UNM has provided matching funding for two additional fellowships for underserved individuals,” said May. “UNM is the only university in the country that gives to the program. UNM has pledged to continue for the next five years to match the extension of the NIMH funding.”
Nearly 50 percent of all program graduates have earned a graduate degree including doctorates in psychology, sociology, neuroscience, international business management, pharmacy, medicine, law and dentistry, and master’s in similar fields. However, the majority of students study in the fields of psychology and sociology.
“The COR program gave me the opportunity to work in New Mexico,” said Aragon, who will have the opportunity to eventually advance into a leadership position in the COR program with the new five-year grant. “I was able to excel in the program because of its many benefits. It also gave me the opportunity to become involved in research and work with other UNM staff. The COR program is responsible for me to earn a doctorate and become a research scientist. It gives students something to shoot for with the ultimate goal being graduate school.”
Contact: Steve Carr, (505) 277-1821; e-mail: scarr@unm.edu