OHSU PREP - Guiding Promising Underrepresented Post-Baccalaureates to be Successful Biomedical Scholars

Project Summary Students from groups underrepresented in science often lack actively mentored, sustained research experiences during their undergraduate years. Absence of direct support and training can be a barrier when these students pursue advanced biomedical degrees. Ultimately fewer underrepresented individuals hold

doctoral degrees, have careers in biomedicine, thereby exacerbating health disparities in the United States (U.S.). The objective of this program is to recruit and train at least five participants per year for an intensive, mentored experience in biomedical research with the goal to prepare them for pursuing a graduate degree in

biomedicine. In preparing scholars to be competitive and successful in graduate programs, we will use a competency-based educational framework to build their skills in research and self-efficacy. The primary aims of OHSU PREP are to 1) provide a sustained research-intensive experience to prepare students for graduate

programs with research faculty mentors who have received mentor training to ensure success with this population of scholars; and 2) provide competency-based professional and career skills development. Scholars will be paired with a faculty mentor and pursue a year-long independent research project aligned with the

scholar’s interests and receive additional mentorship from the Program Directors and Program Coordinator in weekly meetings that build their skills and confidence in self-efficacy and professional identity. Each scholar will develop an individual development plan in order to understand their career and professional development

needs, participate in similar activities as incoming first year PhD students, and take graduate-level courses with an emphasis on ethics and data analytics. We will offer directed preparation for graduate school, including graduate school applications, study skills and time management, critical thinking, and resilience. Scholars, with

their mentors, are expected to develop their research projects for presentation at local and national meetings and prepare a research paper for publication and/or deposition in the OHSU Institutional Repository. Participants will also receive individualized writing instruction, as well as preparation for the GRE, as needed.

As proposed, OHSU PREP will build on existing opportunities that allow for cultural immersion through interactions with near-peer mentors (i.e., graduate students and postdoctoral fellows) and OHSU faculty from underrepresented backgrounds. We expect that at least 75% of our participants will successfully enter and

complete graduate programs in biomedical science and that the program will function as a bridge to ease the transition of recent college graduates into PhD-conferring programs.