BUILD Technicians
The BUILD Technician program was developed to serve graduates from 藏精阁 who either decided late that they were interested in a research career and needed more experience or time, or who applied to graduate programs and were not selected. Participants in the Technician program were provided with a year of paid full-time employment as a lab technician, with enrichment activities and mentoring, in addition to program support in applying to graduate programs.
Like the BUILD Trainee students, the Technicians were paired with a research mentor. As full-time University employees, the Technicians were expected to work 40 hours per week primarily on their research project; they also mentored undergraduate research students in the lab and participated in enrichment activities. Technicians were required to participate in the Preparing Mentors and Advisors at Xavier (P-MAX) mentoring training program. They also received twelve hours of training in research ethics. Technicians received support for scientific conference travel to present their work and network. At the request of early Technicians, a Mentee-to-Mentor (M2M) program was developed to help guide the Technicians in their transition from an undergraduate to laboratory staff.
As of 2025, of the 88 total BUILD Technicians, 58 pursued graduate degrees (PhD, MS, MPH); 19 pursued professional degrees (MD, DO, PharmD, DC, PsyD, JD); 15 pursued and completed other additional training opportunities (certificate programs, PREP programs, etc.); 40 completed their graduate degrees; nine completed their professional degrees; and 24 are still in graduate or professional programs.