PREP-MT: Providing Research Education for Postbaccalaureate Trainees in Montana

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SUMMARY Minority graduates are significantly underrepresented in biomedical PhD programs nationwide. Montana State University (MSU), a research-intensive public land-grant university, serves a significant number of first- generation rural and low-income students who rarely enroll in PhD programs. Likewise, Montana is home to twelve Indigenous tribes, with >6.5% of Montana residents considered American Indians, but only 4.7% of MSU’s undergraduates identify as Native, and no Native Americans have graduated from MSU’s biomedical PhD programs in the past five years. To address these inequities, we have designed an evidence-based postbaccalaureate program, PREP-MT, to prepare underrepresented minority graduates including first- generation, rural, low-income students and Native Americans in Montana for a successful transition into doctoral degree programs in the biomedical sciences. PREP-MT will equip recent minority graduates (PREP scholars) with the experience, confidence, knowledge, and research skills to become highly successful PhD students and graduates. Specifically, our program will pursue the following Specific Aims: (1) Provide in-depth, mentored biomedical research experiences to PREP-MT scholars; (2) Enable PREP-MT to develop professional and career skills relevant to a successful career in biomedical science; (3) Build a professional support network for the PREP-MT scholars to create a sense of belonging as members of the biomedical research community. Additionally, we will perform regular program evaluations, incorporate changes to improve the PREP-MT program, and disseminate our findings to appropriate audiences. Our program is highly feasible, because PREP-MT is synergistically integrated with established undergraduate and graduate research training programs at MSU, increasing the opportunities for the scholars and maximizing our resources. Our Multi-PI leadership team is uniquely positioned to manage the proposed program, since we have a strong background in leading collaborative research and training, promoting minority involvement in biomedical research, and collaborating with tribal and rural communities. More than 30 faculty with biomedical research programs from ten departments who have demonstrated a commitment to training the next generation of scientists have agreed to serve as mentors for the PREP-MT program. All mentors will receive mentorship training through the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experience in Research and MSU’s Indigenous Mentoring Program. The proposed PREP-MT program is innovative, because of its focus on Native American and first generation rural and low-income graduates and because it emphasizes instilling a sense of belonging in our PREP participants. In summary, we are confident that the PREP-MT program will significantly enhance biomedical workforce development by increasing the access of minority groups in Montana to high- quality PhD programs and impactful careers.