Washington University Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program

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PROJECT TITLE: The Washington University Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (WUP) PROJECT SUMMARY Washington University Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (WUP) is designed to provide rigorous research training and enrichment activities to recent college graduates from groups underrepresented in the biomedical sciences to better prepare them to apply, matriculate, and succeed in a PhD program. This program is based on the understanding that an in-depth mentored research experience supplemented with diversity and career enrichment activities will provide optimal preparation for graduate studies in the biomedical sciences. The research experience is complemented by a multi-tiered skill-enhancement program that integrates comprehensive scientific instruction and professional development to build self-efficacy, scientific identity, oral and written scientific communication skills, critical thinking and analysis, and ethical decision-making. Training in such skills is provided by a year-long WUP-specific journal club, numerous career development workshops, an ethics course, rigor and reproducibility training, academic courses, and other skill- building activities. Although the training program is highly structured and logically organized, it is also personalized in that the Individual Development Plan (IDP) and the research interests of each participant are considered when selecting Mentors for one year of laboratory-based research. Scholars will choose from an array of mentors working in mechanobiology, biochemistry, cell biology, development biology, and regenerative medicine. WUP mentors have outstanding records of promoting the training, education, and career advancement of biomedical scientists and conduct rigorous, well-funded biomedical research. The WUP and its components will be assessed at specific intervals throughout the year, through participant, mentor, and director evaluations. The ultimate success will be measured by the matriculation of scholars into PhD programs, their completion of PhD programs, and their long-term success in biomedical science research and research-related careers.