California State University, Northridge will receive a $3 million government grant for programs that encourage underrepresented students to consider careers in biomedical research, the university announced. The university has already received its first installment of $55,174 of its five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health for its MARC U-STAR programs. The programs include Minority Access Research Careers (MARC) and Undergrad Science Training and Academic Research (U*GRAD). The funds will be used to improve student success in majors relating to the biomedical field, including biology, chemistry, mathematics, psychology, kinesiology and environmental science. “This award will not only prepare students who participate directly in the program, but will allow the College of Science and Mathematics to develop and test activities that will improve student success,” said biology professor MariaElena Zavala. The MARC U-STAR program, which started at the university in 1990, allows students to participate in on-campus, long-term research projects. Through the program, the students also receive mentoring, research support, graduate school preparation support and stipends to travel to scientific conferences to present their research results. Since the program’s inception, all participating students have presented their research results at regional, national and international scientific conferences, Zavala said. All MARC students who entered Ph.D. programs have been awarded five-year fellowships to complete Ph.D. programs in their chosen fields. Jessica Selva