The primary objective of the RISE Scholars Program at the University of Texas at El Paso is to increase the participation of disadvantaged underrepresented minority students (URM) in biomedical research, specifically undergraduates who participate in research projects and doctoral students. The aims are to: (1) increase access to educational and research biomedical training; (2) increase the number of URM undergraduates who pursue careers in biomedical research; and (3) increase the representation of URM graduate students in the Biology and Chemistry Ph.D. programs to a level equivalent to our URM undergraduate population.