University of Notre Dame Post-baccalaureate Research and Education Program

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Project Summary/Abstract The University of Notre Dame (ND) proposes to create a cross-university Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (ND-PREP) to provide a one year pre-PhD research experience for eight post-baccalaureate Fellows from underserved diverse backgrounds. Through a combination of NIH support (six Fellows) and institutional funds (two Fellows), Fellows will have the opportunity to choose a research laboratory associated with any of the biomedical-associated PhD programs at ND. The specific sponsoring PhD programs are the Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Biophysics, Chemistry, and Integrated Biomedical Sciences (IBMS) programs in the College of Science, Bioengineering in the College of Engineering, and the Anthropology and Psychology PhD programs in the College of Arts and Letters. The goal of ND- PREP is to provide Fellows with the research experience, professional development, and life skills necessary to gain admission to and succeed in competitive biomedical PhD programs and to do so in an environment that is rigorous while also being individualized, interactive (with both peers and mentors), positive, constructive, and supportive. This goal will be achieved by providing the Fellows with a three-part formal training program that includes: 1) an intensive in-laboratory research experience (75% of Fellow time); (2) a set of skills-development workshops and enrichment activities that will also serve to build a strong ND-PREP cohort (15% of Fellow time, with workshops ranging from research ethics to life skills); and (3) Fellow participation in a unique community engagement activity (10% of Fellow time). The skills-development workshops and enrichment activities will begin with an intensive Summer Graduate School and Research Readiness Bootcamp followed by ND-PREP cohort weekly meetings throughout the academic year. Each ND-PREP Fellow will gain further professional development by attending regional or national conferences. A unique aspect of the ND-PREP program will be participation of Fellows in existing community outreach activities focused on lead abatement. Beyond professional development training, each ND-PREP Fellow will have a mosaic of formal and informal mentors who will provide more personalized training and mentorship. ND-PREP participants will apply to PhD programs (including but not limited to ND) in the fall semester, after participating in writing workshops specifically focused on writing competitive applications that highlight their strengths. Significantly, the set of Fellows who were initially identified through the PhD program application process and who successfully complete the ND-PREP program will be directly admitted to the PhD program that originally nominated them.Through the three-part training program provided by ND-PREP, Fellows should gain the foundational research experience, professional development, and life skills necessary for a life-long career in biomedical research.