RAMP
Applications for RAMP 2025-2026 opening in January 2025!
Our Goal
Research and Mentoring Program (RAMP) is a summer research training program that targets 11th and 12th grade high school students from Baltimore City. The program aims to prepare underrepresented students for careers in biomedical research. RAMP is designed for students with a strong interest in biology, chemistry, medicine, or related fields who belong to groups underrepresented in science, including racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The overarching goal is to build a more inclusive biomedical research workforce, ensuring diverse perspectives contribute to advancements in disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Our program is designed to align with broader initiatives to address disparities in health outcomes and representation in scientific leadership.
Program Structure
RAMP is a 2-year program, consisting of a 5-week summer program that teaches foundational knowledge required to understand concepts across the translational research continuum while providing the skills to perform basic lab techniques and clinical measurements and school year research rotation experiences in year one, followed by an applied summer research experience during the second summer. High school participants can be paid through YouthWorks for the summer portions in addition to being paid up to $500 for participating in the research rotations.
Summer 1
RAMP scholars meet for five weeks each July/August on the UMB campus in Downtown Baltimore. During the first summer, participants will:
- Build skills needed in clinical and laboratory research
- Gain certifications such as Stop the Bleed and Basic Life Support (CPR/AED)
- Be mentored by local college students who are majoring in STEM fields
- Learn from UMB professors, scientists, and PhD students about different fields of research and pathways to working in a research lab
- Attend workshops and seminars to build essential skills, such as scientific and professional communication, reading academic literature, networking, and resume writing
- Design and conduct group mini research projects with the guidance of near-peer mentors and present the projects at the end of summer
School Year
RAMP scholars meet about ten times throughout the school year for research rotations and lunch. These lunch-and-learns are on weekdays that students have off in Baltimore City Public Schools (i.e., Early Release Days and Staff Professional Development Days). We cover a variety of topics, taught by faculty and staff who are experts in their fields. Past topics and activities have included:
- Neuroscience - sheep brain dissections
- Microbiology - cellular assays
- Public health - mock focus group
- Cancer treatment simulation - basic coding lesson
- Research ethics - mock IRB meeting
- Immunology and virology - extracting shark DNA
- Basic Lab Safety training
- Exercise physiology and UMD College Park campus tour
Summer 2
RAMP scholars are placed in research lab internships for five weeks in July/August. During these five weeks, scholars gain exposure and skills to the research happening in their specific labs. Scholars work directly with a lab team member to develop their scientific and communication skills during the development and presentation of a project.
Our Team
Dr. Liz Dennis
Dr. Dennis is the Principal Investigator (PI)* of RAMP. She is a researcher and professor on campus and a registered dietitian. Her research focuses on helping older adults to improve their diets so that they can become healthier. More recently, her research has focused on older adults who have disabilities that impact their movement, exploring how disability negatively impacts dietary quality, and identifying barriers to consuming a healthy diet among this population.
Anna Pudder, MAT
Anna is the Program Manager of RAMP. She has a background in K-12 education and is passionate about getting students interested in biomedical research. In addition to her work with RAMP, Anna also works on other research training programs at UMB, including STAR-PREP and UMB AMPLIFIED.
Support
Thank you to our funders, including:
- Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) award from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) R25GM129875; and supplements 3R25GM129875-04S1; 3R25GM129875-05S1
- NIH National Institutes of Aging SEPA R25AG090804
- University of Maryland School of Medicine Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center
- University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM)
- UMSOM Office of Student Research
- UMSOM Department of Physical Therapy and Rehab Science
Thank you to our partners:
University of Maryland Baltimore Professional Schools, Institutes, Centers & Offices: School of Medicine, School of Nursing, School of Pharmacy, School of Social Work, School of Dentistry, Graduate School, Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Neurology, Department of Neurobiology, UMB CURE Scholars Program, Office of Student Research, General Clinical Research Center (GCRC), Human Research Protections Office, Human Resource Services, Health Sciences and Human Services Library, Office of Emergency Management
Cross-System Partnerships: Towson University, University of Maryland, College Park, Loyola University, Stevenson University, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Business and Professional Community: VA Maryland Health Care System Baltimore Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC), Beth Birago (Learn AHA CPR, First Aid, ACLS, & PALS), Illumina, College Bound