Abstract 1294 Strategies for improving diversity, inclusion and belonging within undergraduate research laboratories

Undergraduate research, a high-impact learning practice, substantially enhances the undergraduate educational experience and is associated with improved learning gains and student success. Importantly, research experiences have been shown to broaden participation in STEM and improve student persistence and retention. While faculty-mentored undergraduate research inherently has components that increase student inquiry skills and self-efficacy through real-world experiences, there remain student challenges and barriers attributed to access, inclusion and belonging. Recognizing these barriers can aid in the development and implementation of systematic strategies that allow students to overcome these hurdles and reap the full benefits of research. As we all strive to provide successful undergraduate research experiences and advance diversity in the life sciences, I will describe effective strategies aimed to intentionally support student researchers from diverse backgrounds and cultivate an inclusive and welcoming learning environment in a research lab at a primarily undergraduate institution. These approaches help to increase active participation and collaboration, build mentoring relationships, and develop science identity among a diverse group of undergraduate students. Moreover, these evidence-based techniques are informed through personal experiences and will provide valuable insights into creating more equitable and inclusive undergraduate research experiences that promote student success. This research was supported by the Garey Endowed Chair in Chemistry at Southwestern University.