Athens, Ga. – A new program at the University of Georgia is working to increase the number of post-baccalaureate students from underrepresented groups who pursue careers in the biomedical sciences.
PREP, short for Post-baccalaureate Research Education Program, is funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences at the National Institutes of Health. Its goal is to train young scientists who have recently finished their bachelor’s degrees, giving them a year of intense research experience through a stipend-supported program.
The deadline for application is May 15. Students accepted for the 2014 program year will start work Aug. 1.
“Our goal is to equip those with the desire and motivation to become the next generation of biomedical researchers with the credentials required to achieve this,” said PREP program director Julie M. Moore, who is also a professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine’s department of infectious diseases. “We are very keen to create opportunities for minority students and students with disabilities and enable them to move into successful research careers in biomedical science.”
Moore said UGA is well positioned to help targeted students advance their scientific careers. Faculty mentors representing eight departments on campus are conducting research on pathogen biology and host response to infection and are developing new drugs, vaccines and diagnostic tests for the most critical infectious diseases that affect people worldwide.
PREP participants will gain skills enabling them to pursue further studies in any area of biomedical research, gain individualized mentoring from biomedical experts at UGA, obtain assistance in applying to competitive Ph.D. and M.D./Ph.D. programs, and receive a one-year stipend and health insurance.
For the online application and more information, see prep.uga.edu or call PREP program coordinator Julie Range at 706-542-4126.
