# Brown University Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program

> **NIH NIH R25** · BROWN UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $303,724

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Assessment of current programs designed to increase diversity in STEM disciplines at Brown University has
revealed the need to specifically address the critical transition from undergraduate into doctoral training
programs. The goal of Brown PREP is to diversify and enrich the biomedical research endeavor by increasing
the number of students enrolled in and completing doctoral training programs. Informed by best practices and
lessons learned from an institutional pilot PREP program, we describe an innovative program characterized by
a comprehensive and customizable set of interventions to support and advance underrepresented students'
academic and career development.
 Each year, our program will recruit and support eight research-oriented baccalaureate graduates from
underrepresented backgrounds and provide them with interdisciplinary research experiences, individualized
academic planning, professional development, and skill-building activities to increase their competitiveness
and readiness for high-caliber doctoral programs. Participating departments for Brown's proposed PREP
reside in the Life and Medical Sciences Division and include biology, neuroscience, psychology, public health
and cognitive, linguistic and psychological sciences.
 In addition to intensive interdisciplinary research experiences and knowledge development, multiple
mentorship and community building opportunities permeate the activities of the Brown PREP. Creating a
community of scholars that will help students successfully navigate program requirements is viewed as
essential to helping students reach their full potential in a short period of time. The use of Individual
Development Plans (IDP) will ensure that the Brown PREP research, educational and professional
development activities are specifically tailored to address each student's academic and career goals. As
important, the Brown PREP will provide opportunities for faculty to engage in conversations about the
importance of developing a diverse workforce in the biomedical and behavioral sciences. We have developed
a comprehensive evaluation plan to assess outcomes and progress toward meeting the overall goal and aims
of this project and monitor quality assurance across the proposed interventions.
 As designed, the Brown PREP will increase the production of underrepresented students who obtain a
doctoral degree in the biomedical sciences; institutionalize best practices on training and mentoring diverse
scholars that can be shared among the Brown community and beyond; and diversify the biomedical research
workforce.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9842549
- **Project number:** 5R25GM125500-03
- **Recipient organization:** BROWN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** CARLOS D AIZENMAN
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $303,724
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-01-01 → 2022-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9842549

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9842549, Brown University Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (5R25GM125500-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9842549. Licensed CC0.

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