# UPenn Post Baccalaureate Research Education Program.

> **NIH NIH R25** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2024 · $425,446

## Abstract

Project Summary
The objective of the University of Pennsylvania Post-Baccalaureate Research and Education
Program (PennPREP) is to guide recent college graduates from underrepresented groups (UR)
into graduate school to pursue biomedical research. Twelve UR scholars are identified each year
who are interested in biomedical research but lack experience or expertise necessary for graduate
school training. Each scholar is matched with a research mentor among the graduate training
faculty and provided with a one-year (possibly two year) intensive research project. Individual
Development Plans are developed for each scholar to ensure their engage in research and
professional development activities are appropriate to their scientific interests, needs, and goals,
including graduate or advanced undergraduate coursework. Scholars develop skills necessary
for success in graduate school by completing workshops in biostatistics, safe and responsible
conduct of research, scientific rigor and reproducibility, critical analysis of scientific literature, and
oral and written presentation skills. Scholars meet weekly as a group to discuss scientific journal
articles and their own research to further develop skills in the critical evaluation of research and
scientific presentations, as well as to increase exposure to research outside their own laboratory.
Scholars receive advising for the graduate school application process, including selecting
programs, writing application essays, and interview practice. Support is provided for GRE or
MCAT preparation courses, as needed. To establish professional networks, scholars meet with
Penn faculty, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students, among them PREP alumni, who share
their experience, research, and academic path. A regional PREP Symposium is held annually
with partner PREP programs to provide additional research exposure and networking
opportunities. Scholars attend at least one national conference per year, such as ABRCMS, and
SACNAS, to present their research, broaden exposure and establish networks. Scholars are
encouraged to join and participate in graduate student groups to build community and identify
scientific role models. Mechanisms are in place for measuring the effectiveness of the program
components and to improve the training experience over time. The ultimate measure of program
success is the admission of PREP scholars to PhD or MD-PhD training programs and the pursuit
a research career. Over the past 18 years, 81% (94/116) of scholars completing PREP were
admitted to PhD or MD-PhD programs, with 31% (7/22) of those remaining seeking MD or other
professional health degrees. Currently, 42 scholars are enrolled in PhD or MD-PhD training, with
38 completing such degrees and moving on to careers related to biomedical research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10782341
- **Project number:** 2R25GM071745-19
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Elizabeth Joyce Bhoj
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $425,446
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2005-09-30 → 2025-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10782341

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10782341, UPenn Post Baccalaureate Research Education Program. (2R25GM071745-19). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10782341. Licensed CC0.

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