PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACTThis application entitled Student Transformative Experiences to Progress Undergraduate and GraduateProfessionals (STEP-UP) for cancer prevention is a multidisciplinary research training initiative led by theHealth Promotion Sciences faculty and the University of Arizona (UA) Comprehensive Cancer Center CancerPrevention and Control (CPC) Program. It is uniquely designed to provide 75 upper division undergraduate and25 Masters' degree seeking students with an intensive summer research experience in CPC over the grantperiod. The research training includes immersion in mentor research laboratories and programs full-time for 10weeks to experience CPC science across the entire continuum of basic to applied and even disseminationresearch. Faculty mentor matching is carefully tailored to trainee interests gaps in prior training and careergoals from 39 faculty members from diverse disciplines committed to this program who are funded in CPCresearch. Trainees will also engage in weekly complimentary educational activities including learning aboutcommunity engagement and career exploration and development. Educational pedagogy will inform on ourmethodology in order to assure students receive a quality educational experience that not only will increaseunderstanding but also will motivate students toward a continued educational commitment to advance in CPCsciences. An embedded mentor development program will enhance faculty mentor training and engageMasters' students and high-performing STEP-UP trainees from past years to serve as peer-to-peer mentors.The STEP-UP program fills early gaps in our research training pathway programs builds on purpose-drivenefforts at the UA Cancer Center to attract and retain a diverse student body in CPC research leverages ourinternational reputation in CPC supports continuous renewal of CPC mentors in academics and care throughthe mentor training program and has garnered significant institutional support. Our specific aims are: 1.Recruit and retain undergraduate and Master's level graduate students into the STEP-UP research trainingprogram; 2. Provide a multidisciplinary research training experience in CPC that strengthens self-efficacy andintrinsic motivation to become a CPC scientist; 3. Support mentor training across academic stages frommentee to peer-to-peer up through senior faculty mentors and cultivate professional relationships withscientists research programs and community partners; 4. Conduct formative and summative evaluations toimprove the program over time. The training program is centralized in Southern Arizona and offers hands-onresearch training within our unique catchment area which is rich in diversity relative to ethnicity (31.7%Hispanic) race (5.3% Native Americans) and age (18.0% 65 years). This distinctive location strongcommunity ties university facilities and resources for research as well as committed and experienced facultymentors and leaders assures a quality program that will build and sustain the CPC workforce of the future.