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Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PennPREP)


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Academic Level:
Post-Baccalaureate

Description:
The University of Pennsylvania Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PennPREP) offers a one-to two-year research experience for students who have completed college and are interested in pursuing a doctoral degree in the biomedical sciences. This program provides a significant research experience and preparation for applying to and succeeding in graduate school.

Program Features:

The program is designed to increase understanding of the principles and practices of biomedical research. The centerpiece of the program is a long-term research project conducted in the laboratory of a skilled faculty mentor. PREP scholars will learn to devise hypotheses, plan experiments, analyze results, and consider the impact of their research on their scientific discipline. Activities in the lab will be supplemented with opportunities designed to prepare PREP scholars for graduate school such as:

- Research seminars, retreats, and conferences

- One academic course per semester

- Workshops in scientific writing, public speaking, career advising and bioethics

- Test preparation

- Application assistance, with a focus on the personal essay and interview skills

- Social activities with other PREP scholars, undergraduate interns, graduate students, and laboratory associates PREP scholars receive a competitive stipend, including health insurance.

Areas of Research:

Mentors are drawn from a group of over 600 faculty associated with Biomedical Graduate Studies (BGS) at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. The mentors are united by their extensive experience in training scientists. Their broad areas of research include: biochemistry and molecular biophysics; cell and molecular biology; developmental biology; microbiology, parasitology, and virology; genetics; genomics and computational biology; immunology; neuroscience; and pharmacology. Mentors have a diverse range of health interests, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and asthma.

Eligibility:

Only U.S. citizens or permanent residents are eligible for this program. Applicants must have a degree in a biomedical science from an accredited U.S. college or university and have graduated no more than 36 months prior to the start of the program. Applicants must intend to apply to a graduate program within two years of beginning the PREP program. Individuals who bring diversity to graduate study in the biological or biomedical sciences by reason of their culture, class, race, ethnicity, background, disability, work and life experiences, skills and interests are encouraged to apply for the program. Applications are especially encouraged from students who are Black/African-Americans, Hispanic/Latino/Chicano Americans, Native Americans and Alaskan Natives and Pacific-Islanders.
Recently updated.

Participating Institution(s):
(Click an institution to see all programs it hosts or sponsors)
University of Pennsylvania (Lead)

Program Materials:
 • Program Website 

This Program can be Described by:
Academic Disciplines:
Biochemistry
Biology
Cellular Biology
Epidemiology
Genetics & Genomics
Microbiology
Molecular Biology
Neuroscience
Pharmaceutical Sciences
Physiology

Keywords:
Behavioral Neuroscience
Cancer
Developmental Biology
Molecular Biophysics
Molecular Genetics
Neurobiology

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Page last updated 3/5/2024
Click here to submit updates to this program listing!


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