Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program at UC Davis

许多来自少数族裔或弱势背景的学生在博士水平的生物医学研究中的代表性不足，可能是因为他们要么缺乏学术准备，要么没有自我认同为研究科学家，因此决定不参加博士项目。加州大学戴维斯分校预科(prep@ucd)的目标是为这些学生提供在生物医学博士项目中脱颖而出所需的研究、沟通、分析和生活技能。加州大学戴维斯分校拥有由美国国立卫生研究院资助的广泛的生物医学研究基础，致力于通过一系列校园范围的学术和文化倡议来促进多样性，并致力于丰富生物医学科学方面的本科生和研究生教育，使其成为举办预科项目的理想机构。此外，加州大学戴维斯分校正在积极寻求成为一家拉美裔服务机构(HSI)。每年最多有8名预科学者将在一个由研究导师、一名教师顾问、PI和项目协调员组成的导师团队的密切指导下，参与研究(75%)和职业发展活动(25%)。提出了为生物医学研究生项目准备@UCD学者的三个具体目标。首先，PREP将提供一个有指导的研究环境，让学者们可以发展他们作为科学家的自我形象。PREP的最新研究进展 学者们发现，在研究生院取得成功需要学生自我认同为科学家；花一年时间进行个人的、以假设为导向的研究将为预科大学的学者提供这样做的机会。其次，准备@UCD的学者将接受实验技能培训，并在活跃的研究实验室进行指导。一份个性化的研究说明书将捕捉一个假设和研究路线，让学者接触到各种科学方法。实验室活动、学术课程、培训讲习班和研讨会将培养收集科学信息、团队合作、批判性解决问题以及评估研究道德和价值观的技能。第三，Prep@UCD学者将发展强大的学术书面和口头沟通能力。每位学者将花费25%的精力准备生物医学研究生申请的文件；每季度参加一门高级课程以充实内容；以海报和PowerPoint格式展示研究成果；参加期刊俱乐部以接触科学文献和话语；参加地区和国家科学会议以与其他学者建立网络；以及参加专业发展研讨会，为博士学位以外的严酷研究生和职业选择做准备。预计至少75%的学者将在完成Prep@UCD课程后进入著名的研究生课程。此外，在预科期间培养的技能和科学自我认同将为学者们提供更好的机会，在生物医学博士或医学/博士项目中脱颖而出。

Many students from minority populations or disadvantaged backgrounds are underrepresented in PhD-level biomedical research, perhaps having decided not to enter PhD programs because they either lack academic preparation or fail to self-identify as research scientists. The goal of PREP at UC Davis (PREP@UCD) is to provide such students with the research, communication, analytical, and life skills required to excel in doctoral programs in the biomedical sciences. The University of California, Davis, has a broad base of biomedical research funded by the NIH, is committed to diversity through a host of campus-wide academic and cultural initiatives, and is dedicated to enriching undergraduate and graduate student education in the biomedical sciences, making it an ideal institution to host a PREP program. Moreover, UC Davis is actively pursuing status as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). Up to eight PREP scholars annually will participate in research (75%) and career development activities (25%) under the close guidance of a mentorship team consisting of research supervisors, a faculty advisor, the PI, and the program coordinator. Three specific aims are proposed to prepare PREP@UCD scholars for biomedical graduate programs. First, PREP will provide a mentored research environment where the scholars can develop their self-image as scientists. A recent study of PREP scholars found that success in graduate school requires that the student self-identifies as a scientist; spending a year performing individual, hypothesis-driven research will provide PREP@UCD scholars with the opportunity to do so. Second, PREP@UCD scholars will be trained in experimental skills and mentored in an active research laboratory. An individualized research prospectus will capture a hypothesis and line of research to expose the scholar to a variety of scientific approaches. Laboratory activities, academic coursework, training workshops and symposia will develop skills for gathering scientific information, working in a team, solving problems critically, and assessing research ethics and values. Third, PREP@UCD scholars will develop strong academic written and oral communication skills. Each scholar will spend 25% of his or her effort in preparing documents for graduate applications in biomedical sciences; enrolling in one senior-level course per quarter for enrichment; presenting research findings in poster and PowerPoint formats; participating in journal clubs to gain exposure to scientific literature and discourse; attending regional and national scientific conferences to network with other scholars; and participating in professional development workshops to prepare for the rigors of graduate school and career options beyond the PhD. It is expected that at least 75% of scholars will enter prestigious graduate programs upon completion of the PREP@UCD program. Moreover, the skills and scientific self-identity fostered during PREP@UCD will provide the scholars with a better chance of excelling in biomedical PhD or MD/PhD programs.