PREP Program

PREP Program Brochure & Application 2012

Application Deadline: March 1, 2012
Program Starts: August 1, 2012

PREP Newsletter
         Volume 1 Issue 1
         Volume 1 Issue 2

PREP 2010 Symposium
PREP 2011 Symposium

PREP 2011 Symposium Pictures

We are pleased to offer the WFSM Post-baccalaureate Research Education (PREP) Scholars opportunity funded by the NIGMS and created in August of 2001 to provide 1-2 years of research, coursework and GRE preparation to students under-represented in seeking the PhD for careers in research in the biomedical sciences.  The program received renewal funding in March 2009 for 9 positions.  The program is primarily to provide intensive research experiences, but is also designed to enhance acceptance into graduate programs by providing a chance to remedy academic deficiencies and to provide assistance with the GRE.  Students must be less than 3 years post-bachelors degree and interested in obtaining a Ph.D. in the biomedical sciences.  The positions are funded at a salary of $21,000 from the grant and the grant also provides for tuition for ~2 undergraduate or graduate level courses per year.  Trainees accepted into the program select research mentors from a wide range of topic areas for their research intensive experience. There are journal clubs and other enrichment activities provided throughout the year.  

Summary of PREP Outcomes from 2001-present:

Fifty two nationally recruited trainees have participated in the program between 2001 and 2011. A total of 25% of our PREPs came from our summer program (14).  Twenty-one students were offered positions and fifteen entered programs at WFSM (12 PhD, 1 MD and 2 Master’s); sixteen entered PhD programs elsewhere.  To summarize the success, 40 trainees entered graduate programs (28 PhD and 12  Master’s) with an 89% retention rate, 7 entered professional schools, 2 are technicians and 5 are teaching math or science (totals more than 52 as some masters students have gone on to PhDs).  The majority of these participants were African American (78%). The PREP pipeline contributed 20-30% of the minority students in biomedical sciences graduate program over the past 7 years and over this time period, the percentage of under-represented minority students rose from less than 5% to 16-20%.  Twelve students have already completed the PhD, with another 2 scheduled for completion of their PhD in 2011; two already hold assistant professor positions.  Nine new students entered the program in August, 2011.

For more information contact: 

Nobi Sarver, Administrative Secretary and Research Training Program Coordinator
Hypertension and Vascular Research Center
Wake Forest School of Medicine
Medical Center Boulevard
Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1032
Telephone: (336) 716-1080
FAX: (336) 716-2456
Email: nsarver@wakehealth.edu