Virginia Commonwealth University Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program

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Summary The Virginia Commonwealth University Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (VCU PREP) will continue to prepare underrepresented scholars for highly competitive doctoral programs in the biomedical and behavioral sciences, through specific aims and measurable objectives. In Aim 1, 5 qualified applicants (with an undergraduate GPA greater than 3.0) will be recruited annually for each of 7 positions in VCU PREP. Acceptable candidates will be academically competent, but may lack the research preparation and/or rigorous academic coursework for admission to the nation’s most competitive PhD programs. VCU PREP candidates will be recruited through the NIGMS website, the VCU PREP website and LinkedIn page, interactions with faculty at partner Minority Serving Institutions, and using our email list of biology faculty members and department chairs at primarily undergraduate institutions. Additionally, recruitment will be achieved by alerting unsuccessful applicants to VCU PhD programs about PREP. These outreach activities will be complemented by recruitment through the dissemination of program information at national meetings, such as the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) and Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS). In Aim 2, VCU PREP Scholars will participate in an intensive, positive mentored research experience. Each Scholar will be matched with a highly qualified VCU faculty mentor, according to the Scholar’s research interests. VCU PREP Mentors are selected based on their peer-reviewed external funding and publication records, and an excellent record of training and mentoring success. Mentors will participate in a mentoring workshop, facilitated by VCU faculty trained through the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research. Expected outcomes for Scholars include presentations at a local and national research symposium, and preparation of a written research proposal and a final research report, with a published manuscript as an ultimate goal. In Aim 3, Scholars will be provided with an individualized program for academic enhancement. They will have one-on-one training in oral communication and scientific writing, develop an individual development plan (IDP), and begin to explore career possibilities. Scholars will participate in an introductory Ready, Set, Research workshop series, and in workshops on Quantitative Skills, Graduate School Admission, Wellness, and Career/Professional Development throughout the year. Students will participate in an interactive journal club to develop Analytical and Critical Thinking Skills. Scholars will take courses to prepare them for graduate school, selected jointly by the Scholar, Program Directors, and Research Mentor, and will have training in the responsible conduct of research and data reproducibility. In Aim 4, a rigorous evaluation and tracking system will be implemented for longitudinal follow-up of VCU PREP Scholars. We expect VCU PREP training to result in the transition of 75% of scholars to highly competitive doctoral programs, with at least 80% persistence to degree.