# UAB PREP Scholars Program

> **NIH NIH R25** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 2021 · $356,201

## Abstract

Increasing the diversity of the biomedical workforce is an important national goal to which the University of
Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) contributes. With over $320 million of federally funded research, UAB is an ideal
site for a program to prepare graduate students for careers in biomedical sciences. UAB is a comprehensive
research university and medical complex, classified as “doctoral – very research intensive”. Its doctoral training
programs encompass all major research areas, including substantial strengths in the biomedical sciences. UAB
has an outstanding record of successful training for graduate students and a strong commitment to training
doctoral students from diverse backgrounds. UAB has established several (currently active) programs to help
both undergraduate students from underserved groups who aspire to doctoral careers and graduate students
who need financial support to pursue graduate studies. Specifically, the UAB PREP Scholars Program
(established in 2009) provides an additional pathway for a diverse pool of postbaccalaureate applicants to enter
doctoral programs in the biomedical sciences. Some undergraduate students from underserved groups decide
to pursue doctoral education too late in their college career, making them less competitive applicants that those
that decide earlier. Others may have had limited opportunities to engage in high-quality research experiences
due to limitations at their undergraduate institutions. The UAB PREP Scholars Program will provide these
individuals with significant financial and academic support, research experience, and educational and
professional development training to increase their competitiveness for entry into biomedical-related doctoral
graduate programs at top-tier research institutions and ensure success in completing their Ph.D. degrees. Our
overall goal for the UAB PREP Scholars Program is for 75% of participants to both enter and complete biomedical
doctoral graduate programs. During the training period, scholars will work with their faculty mentors to develop
an independent research project upon which they will spend 80% or more of their time. An individual development
plan (IDP) will also be designed for each student to address any academic weaknesses that might affect their
success in matriculating into doctoral graduate programs. In addition, extensive professional development
training will be provided to the scholars to strengthen writing and quantitative skills, raise awareness for career
options, develop presentation skills, discuss research ethics, and foster networking with peers at scientific
meetings, such as the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students. Progress of scholars
towards meeting the goals of their IDP will be monitored by regular meetings with PREP Directors and the
research mentor.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10131810
- **Project number:** 5R25GM086256-12
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **Principal Investigator:** Cristin F Gavin
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $356,201
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2009-04-01 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10131810

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10131810, UAB PREP Scholars Program (5R25GM086256-12). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10131810. Licensed CC0.

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