National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates

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 Questions? Email muzukwu@bowiestate.edu

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Improving Healthcare Services Quality Outcomes in Minority-Owned Healthcare Services Organizations with the Use of Six Sigma Methodology

The National Science Foundation-funded Research Experience for Undergraduates program provides practical learning experiences to undergraduates. This program at Bowie State University is an organizational immersive program that seeks to improve the quality of healthcare services outcomes at minority-owned healthcare service organizations. The students will be trained in Six Sigma healthcare process improvement applications before being deployed to healthcare organizations to observe operations and collect data for analysis. From this analysis, healthcare services improvement strategies will be created for use by the healthcare organizations in clinical and managerial operations.

Students majoring in Health Services Administration and Business administration are encouraged to submit applications! To ensure broader diversity, underrepresented groups in healthcare management, administration and leadership (women, minorities, and persons with disabilities) are strongly encouraged to apply! The Research Experience for Undergraduates program will be held in the summer of 2025 in person at Bowie State University in Bowie, MD.

Learn More About the Program

Support For Research Activities

  1. $5,400 stipend over 9 weeks.
  2. On-campus housing (individual bedroom in a two-person suite.
  3. Meal plan
  4. Transportation to and from research sites
  5. Weekly workshops and training sessions
  6. Presentation of the research results to the Bowie State University faculty and
    community

Qualifications

  1. Current enrolment in an undergraduate program at either a 4 or a 2 year college
    program.
  2. Be a sophomore, junior or first semester senior.
  3. Be a US citizen or permanent resident
  4. Preferred GPA of 3.00 or higher
  5. Consideration will be given to all academic majors, but preference will be given to
    Health Services Administration and Business Majors.
  6. Applicants must submit a CV, cover letter, transcripts and one letter of
    recommendation.

Research Requirements

  1. Full time research work with faculty mentors for 9 weeks, starting in the first week of
    June until the first week of August.
  2. Attend workshops, training sessions and a healthcare Services conference in Maryland.
  3. Creation of a poster and PowerPoint slides for presentation at the conclusion of the
    program in August.

Research Mentors

  • Matthew Uzukwu, Ph.D., MBA., SSBBP ®, General Six Sigma training and applications in healthcare services

    Professional Preparation

    • Walden University Health Administration Ph.D., 2005
    • Howard University Business Management MBA. 1986
    • Howard University Economics BA. 1985
    • Management and Strategy Institute Six Sigma Black Belt Professional Certification. Certificate, 2016

    Professional Appointments

    Bowie State University

    • Assistant Professor of Health Sciences Jan 2024-present
    • Adjunct Professor, College of Business Jan 2023-Jan 2024
    • Adjunct Professor, College of Business 2007-2014

    Saint Leo University

    • Adjunct Professor, College of Business 2016-2022

    Relevant Publications

    • Uzukwu, M (2021). Leadership and Entrepreneurship: How To Become A Successful Entrepreneur. Feli Publishing. ISBN: 978-0- 9637326-9-9.
    • Uzukwu, M., & Ekwenna, O. (2018). Issues of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) in Southeastern Nigeria: A Study of Patients On Dialysis, International Journal of Public Health And Safety, 2018, 3:158
    • Uzukwu, M. (2011). The Spread of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria: Three Economic Status/Income Level Groups in Owerri, Nigeria: Saarbrucken, Germany: Lambert. Academic Publishing. ISBN: 978-3-8443-8923-4
    • Uzukwu, M. (2010). The use of Techno-Media Strategy as a tool in Effective Healthcare Service Delivery in Nigeria and the implications for Democracy Sustenance (pp. 225-248) In Nwokeafor C. U. & Langmia, K. (eds.). Media and Technology in Emerging African Democracies. Lanham, MD: University Press of America. ISBN 978-0761851998 (2010).

    Synergistic Activities Relevant to Proposal

    • Co-PI (Co-Primary investigator) on a Bowie State University Summer undergraduate 2023 Research Institute Grant (Summer 2023) for a case study titled: “The Factors That Lead To Black Entrepreneurial Success: A Case Study of Three Black Entrepreneurs In The Washington DC Metropolitan Area.” I mentored two students in this effort.
    • PI and mentor of three undergraduate students on a BSU Spring 2024 SURI-sponsored study titled “titled “Frederick Herzberg’s Motivation-Hygiene Theory and Its Applicability To Washington DC Area Nurses’ Job Satisfaction and Dissatisfaction, Attitudes With Implications For Effective and Efficient Healthcare Services Delivery.”
    • Founder and part Director of Global Development and Crisis Prevention 22 Institute (GDCPI), a knowledge transfer organization engaged in capacity building in arts and STEM education in the developing world.

  • Cosmas Nwokeafor, Six Sigma communications applications

    Professional Preparation

    • Howard University Mass Communication Ph.D., 1992Howard University Mass Communication M.A. 1990
    • Howard University Journalism B.A. 1986
    • Harvard University Leadership & Administration Training Certification. Certificate 2004
    • Oxford University, U.K. Research Symposium on Education Certificate 2013
    • Oxford University, U.K. Research Roundtable on Conundrum of Autism Certificate 2009

    Professional Appointments

    Bowie State University

    • Dean of Graduate School Aug 2007-2023
    • Assistant Provost for Graduate Studies Aug 2006-2008
    • Provost Fellow Aug 2005-2007
    • Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Aug 2003-2005
    • Asst. Dean College of Arts and Sciences Aug 2001-2003
    • Chair, Department of Communication Aug 2002-2003

    Relevant Publications

    • Nwokeafor, C. U. Founder and Publisher of the International Journal of Communication and Social
      Sciences (IJCSS). June 2019 www.kdp.amazon.com
    • Nwokeafor, C. U. Development Communication, and Leadership in Africa. Kindle Direct Publishers
      (www.kdp.amazon.com). April 2019.
    • Nwokeafor, C. U. Information Communication Technology (ICT) Integration to Educational Curricula: A New Direction for Africa. University Press of America (UPA), Lanham MD. March 2015.
    • Nwokeafor, C. U. and Langmia, K. (eds.). Media Role in African Changing Electoral Process: A Political
      Communication Perspective. University Press of America, Lanham MD. 2014.
    • Nwokeafor, C. U. and Langmia, K, (eds.) Media and Technology in Emerging African Democracies.
      University Press of America, Lanham MD (August 2010)

    Synergistic Activities Relevant to Proposal

    Research Positions/Fund Development Activies

    • 2003 -2005 - Served as a principal investigator (PI) for Project LINC (Learning in Communities) grant activity for eighty-seven thousand five hundred and three dollars and twenty-five cents ($87,503.25 for three years). Project LINC is funded by the U.S. Department of Education.
    • b. 2004- Served as a 2004 - Served as a co-principal investigator (Co-PI) with Dr. Srivastava, Chair of the Department of Computer Science as the principal investigator (PI) for a five hundred and ninety-eight thousand seven hundred and sixty-four ($598,764 – for two years) dollars National Science Foundation (NSF) proposal application titled: Prince George’s Partnership for Innovation (NSF Proposal Number: 0332804 - Sadanand Srivastava and Cosmas U. Nwokeafor 2004).

Frequent Questions

What is involved in the research work?

The Research Experience for Undergraduates is a 9-week long full time program. You will work alongside faculty mentors during the project. You will initially undergo training in Six Sigma methodology and applications in healthcare services settings, following which you will observe operations and take notes at an assigned healthcare facility (doctor’s office, rehab center, nursing home, dialysis center, addition treatment facility, weight loss center). You will conduct a survey of a random sample of the patients of these facilities. The faculty mentors will go over the data with you and prepare a solutions manual. You will attend a healthcare conference in the state of Maryland. You will meet at least once a week with the faculty mentors to review weekly collected data.

What are the living and logistics arrangements?

Answer: You will live in one of the newest dormitories on campus. Your meals will be taken care off. You will be provided transportation to and from the healthcare centers or clinics where your research will take place. The BSU campus is in a quiet section of the city of Bowie. When not conducting research, you can explore leisure activities at popular hangouts in College Park, the Bowie Town Center, and Washington DC.

I am not a Bowie State University Student, can I still apply?

Yes, you can still apply. Students from 4-year colleges and community colleges are eligible to apply.