UW Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP)

University Of Washington, Seattle WA

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

The biomedical research community is underrepresented in populations of certain ethnic origin, with disabilities and of disadvantaged background. The University of Washington PREP program (UW PREP) provides UR students with research and professional development training to enter biomedical graduate programs. The program has done so for 13 years by recruiting recently graduated UR students; (providing them with research experience at the UW and the FredHutch; as well as in professional development through graduate courses at the UW, specialized seminars and mentored presentations; present their research at national conferences; and individual mentorship. UW PREP has recruited 86 fellows; 83% of fellows overall (but nearly 90% in the second and third cycle, years 5-12) have reached graduate school in premier biomedical research programs; of these, 20 have graduated with PhD’s and 7 with Master degrees, while 28 are still enrolled in graduate school (82%); the majority of all other fellows are still involved in biomedical research or teaching. The outstanding results of UW PREP demonstrate that its plan to advance the fellow’s preparation centered on a year-long research patterned project (approximately 75% of the time), supplemented by targeted professional development activities (25% of the time) will allow UW PREP fellows to be admitted to and succeed in high-quality biomedical doctoral programs. One of the main reasons for the success of UW PREP is the large pool of accomplished and well-funded research laboratories at the UW and FredHutch who, year after year, host the fellows; and the support of pre-doctoral and training programs that participate in and with which the program dovetails. From this very large pool of investigators the program draws the core group of faculty mentors listed in this application; all accomplished scientists who have mentored and/or advised in the past and demonstrated a commitment to mentoring undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral UR fellows. UW PREP will facilitate matching each fellow with a research mentor to conduct a year long, hypothesis-driven research project. Co-mentoring by the program leadership will provide advice about graduate school application. Professional development activities based on each fellow’s individual development program (IDP) will improve scientific skills in writing, presentations, the interpretation of the scientific literature and bioethics; supplemental didactic training will be provided, as needed, to fill gaps in preparation, based on the IDP. Self-confidence and scientific identity will be fostered through a variety of scientific and social forums with URM groups in Seattle. UW PREP goals are as follows: (i) all (100%) fellows will apply for admission into biomedical graduate or MD/PhD programs; (ii) at least 85% of them will successfully enter first-rated pre-doctoral graduate programs; (iii) at least 80% of them will graduate with a doctoral degree.