# Northwestern University Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program

> **NIH NIH R25** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $366,561

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
This proposal aims to enhance diversity within the biomedical workforce by supporting the development of
seven recent baccalaureate graduates from underrepresented backgrounds to be competitive for PhD
programs in the best biomedical research-oriented universities in the country. The “Northwestern University
Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (NU PREP)” represents an interdisciplinary initiative with
leadership and participating faculty distributed across 14 departments and representing the four biomedical
sciences graduate programs at NU. Given the breadth of both participating departments and applicants, PREP
will create individualized plans for skill building tailored to each scholar's training objectives, thus providing the
best preparation for success in graduate school. Experienced PREP mentors, in collaboration with PREP
leadership will work with trainees to customize a one-year research program focused on developing critical
thinking skills, research techniques, data analysis, and scientific communication. Preparation for graduate
school admissions will include instruction on writing personal statements and interviewing skills, student and
faculty perspectives panels on aspects of the application and interview process, and an optional GRE
workshop. Coursework will include one advanced undergraduate course to complement the trainee's previous
coursework, mini-courses in cellular physiology and molecular genetics, and scientific communication
workshops. Intensive advising using Individual Development Plans will be done to ensure that skill building,
research training and graduate school applications are progressing. PREP scholars will integrate into the local
Northwestern Community through engagement with graduate students, postdocs, and faculty at seminars,
retreats, and training events in one of ten institutional NIH-funded training programs and informal activities with
graduate student mentors (NU Guides). Cohort building activities include participation in joint events and
socials with the NU Causeway Postbaccalaureate Program; two joint socials with University of Chicago (UofC)
and University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) PREP trainees; and a joint scientific conference with PREP trainees
from the UofC, UIC, Mayo Clinic and University of Michigan. Broader community building and scientific
networking will be achieved through attending Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students
(ABRCMS) or the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science
(SACNAS). PREP will be administered by the Director, three co-Investigators, a Program Coordinator, and an
Advisory Committee. Program evaluation and fine tuning will be done annually through services provided by
Northwestern's Searle Center for Teaching and Learning and Office for Research. The milestones of NU PREP
are for at least 80% of trainees to be admitted to a top ranked biomedical sciences graduate program and for
at lea...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10830972
- **Project number:** 5R25GM121231-08
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** ANA MARIA ACOSTA
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $366,561
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-05-01 → 2025-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10830972

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10830972, Northwestern University Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (5R25GM121231-08). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10830972. Licensed CC0.

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