Friday, April 19, 2024
4/19/2024
The Tufts Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) provides recent college graduates from groups underrepresented in the biomedical sciences with innovative training that integrates career and cultural skills with intense research training as a means to transition to and excel in top-ranked biomedical PhD or MD/PhD programs. Our mentors are high-achieving multidisciplinary faculty drawn from six graduate programs at Tufts, specifically screened and trained as mentors for the PREP program. Trainees work on independent research projects akin to graduate students thesis projects. The program complements hands-on research training with a unique year-long PREP course designed to advance analytic, quantitative, and statistical skills in basic science, and to develop oral and written presentation skills. Another important element of the Tufts PREP program is that each trainee affiliates with a PhD program at the Tufts Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) and participates in its academic and social activities. This affiliation fosters the trainee’s self-identification as a research scientist and prevents isolation. We also implement the use of Individual Development Plans (IDPs) and provide training for both the trainee and the faculty mentor to maximize their benefit. Trainees then receive individualized support during the graduate school application process. We continuously adjust and improve the program based on trainee and faculty feedback and a robust evaluation strategy that monitors the effectiveness of all program elements. The Tufts PREP receives generous support from the University and the School of Medicine, which together provide funding for three new trainees each year. This high level of support underscores Tufts’ strong institutional commitment to the PREP program and to promoting diversity in the biomedical sciences. The success of our training program is illustrated by over 50 research publications generated by our PREP trainees, including nine for which the trainees were first authors. Moreover, 75% of the trainees who completed training over the last 5 years entered graduate biomedical programs, improving on our outcomes of the prior 15 years (70%). In this renewal application, we restructure our program to shorten time in training to one year and add innovative programming to further increase success. New components include an introductory course designed to help incoming trainees identify strategies to build confidence and resilience, self- identify as a scientist, engender a sense of community, and establish support networks. A new module in the PREP course will focus on critical thinking and scientific practice as well as rigor and reproducibility. Trainees will be required to take a GSBS graduate biomedical course to introduce them to the rigors of graduate school and build their academic portfolio. They will also participate in a new program that will provide continued coaching after they enter graduate school. With strong support from the institution, faculty, and broader Tufts community, Tufts PREP will augment our URG trainees’ academic, scientific, and social skills essential for success in graduate school, and contribute longterm to a more diverse biomedical workforce and biomedical leadership.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
