Project Details
Description
Project Summary/Abstract
Neither the biomedical research workforce nor the faculty at research universities and medical schools
reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of the American population. In part, this is due to the limited number of
underrepresented minority (URM) students who enter PhD and MD-PhD programs. Lack of substantive
research experiences during undergraduate studies leaves many URM students unprepared to apply to
competitive graduate programs. The goal of this Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) is
to provide URM and disabled students, who want to pursue a career in biomedical research, with the intensive
research experience and academic enrichment necessary to make them competitive applicants to rigorous
PhD and MD-PhD programs. Einstein has a long history of successfully mentoring URM students through both
its PhD and MD-PhD programs. The Einstein PREP has four major components designed to prepare trainees
to apply successfully to PhD or MD-PhD programs: 1) an intensive, mentored laboratory research experience,
2) a didactic component to increase trainees' scientific knowledge and prepare them for interdisciplinary
research, 3) an oral and written communications skills enhancement program, and 4) a layered mentoring
system to provide the trainees with the support network they need to flourish in the program and beyond.
These four components are interwoven throughout the year long program. The program begins with a two
week Orientation during which trainees select their research mentor. The mentored research project
emphasizes the process of hypothesis-based research, the excitement and joy of scientific discovery, and the
persistence and creativity needed to achieve success. Trainees work with the Program Directors and research
mentor to formulate an Individual Development Plan. Each trainee is assigned either a URM PhD or MD-PhD
student peer mentor. The Einstein Minority Scientist Association will run a monthly PREP Journal Club and
other social and scientific activities. The Program Directors will meet with the trainees on a weekly basis for
informal and didactic sessions. This combination of didactic and experiential learning will prepare the
applicants to apply successfully to highly competitive PhD and MD-PhD programs. We expect that more than
75% of our trainees will matriculate and successfully complete such programs. To date, 19 trainees have
entered the program, 12 have completed and all are enrolled in PhD or MD-PhD programs, i.e., 100% success.
Of the 7 trainees currently in the program, one applying to MD-PhD programs already has an acceptance; five
applying to PhD programs already have multiple interview invitations. We expect that all will successfully
matriculate into graduate programs. The seventh trainee will spend a second year in the program while she
applies to MD-PhD programs. Our PREP alumni will ultimately expand the US biomedical workforce diversity.
Status | Finished |
---|---|
Effective start/end date | 4/1/13 → 2/28/24 |
Funding
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences: $411,564.00
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences: $370,407.00
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences: $411,564.00
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences: $378,519.00
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences: $220,803.00
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences: $190,647.00
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences: $220,917.00
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences: $411,564.00
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences: $296,871.00
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences: $157,716.00
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences: $119,232.00
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences: $378,519.00
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