A tool to engage Black middle school students and their families in STEM education
Official title: STEM As I Am: A culturally relevant media-enhanced tool for engaging Black middle school students and their families in STEM
Funded at Oregon Res Behavioral Intervention Strat · NIH-11067643 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new tool called STEM-AIM that helps Black middle school students and their families get excited about learning science, technology, engineering, and math by making it more relatable and fun, while also helping them understand important academic words they need for success.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Res Behavioral Intervention Strat NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Springfield, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 22, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $306,872 |
| NIH project number | 1R43MD020230-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11067643 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are Black middle school students and their families who are interested in STEM education.
✕Less likely to help
Students who are not interested in STEM subjects or who do not belong to the Black community may not receive benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This project develops a culturally relevant media-enhanced tool called STEM-AIM, aimed at engaging Black middle school students and their families in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) learning. The tool addresses systemic barriers that limit Black students' participation in STEM courses by providing innovative resources that promote family engagement, mentorship, and a sense of belonging. It focuses on enhancing students' understanding of abstract academic vocabulary, which is crucial for success in STEM fields and high-stakes achievement tests. The approach is evidence-based and designed to be cost-effective for schools.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve Black middle school students' engagement and success in STEM education, leading to better academic and career outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Similar initiatives have shown promise in improving engagement and success rates among underrepresented groups in STEM, indicating that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Oregon Res Behavioral Intervention Strat
Springfield, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Smith, David Randolph — Oregon Res Behavioral Intervention Strat
- Study coordinator: Smith, David Randolph
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.