Graduate School

Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP)

NIH-PREP (Biological and Biomedical Sciences)
The Brown Post-baccalaureate Research Education Program is a NIH-funded internship program that adopts a comprehensive yet customizable approach to support student academic and career development.

The program specifically addresses the critical transition into, and successful completion of doctoral training programs in biomedical and behavioral sciences by improving participants’ academic credentials, enhancing research skills and building confidence in their abilities to successfully matriculate and complete a Ph.D. program. 

Current and Past PREP Scholars

Program

The Brown post-baccalaureate program is one-year and runs from June to May. Participants receive a stipend of $36,000 for the twelve month-period for living expenses. 

  • Brown Course
  • Monthly Group Lunches
  • Critical Skills Workshop
  • Journal Club
     
  • Independent study/research
  • Journal Club
  • Monthly Group Lunches
  • PREP Symposium
     

Faculty

Brown PREP faculty trainers are associated with the Division of Biology and Medicine, Alpert School of Medicine, The School of Public Health and the Graduate School. They are a collaborative group of individuals from diverse backgrounds; accomplished and well-funded with laboratory and classroom based expertise in the sciences; utilize multidisciplinary approaches in research and teaching; and have a proven track record of training and mentoring. Numerous Brown PREP faculty mentors are also training faculty on other multidisciplinary training grants that support graduate research, such as the Brown IMSD Program, the Pre-doctoral Training Program in Trans-Disciplinary Pharmacological Sciences, and the Postdoctoral Comparative Effectiveness Development Training Award. 

View List of PREP Faculty

Eligibility

The Brown PREP program is intended for students who have expressed interest in pursuing doctoral level training, who need to strengthen their content knowledge and skill preparedness in order to be competitive for graduate training.  We will identify trainees from diverse backgrounds who have an awareness of graduate school process, experience overcoming obstacles, the ability to work effectively in a team and demonstrated a knowledge and understanding of doctoral level training that will lead to research-based careers in the biomedical and behavioral sciences. Additional requirements include:

  • You must be a U.S. citizen, national or permanent resident.
  • You must have received a baccalaureate degree in a biomedically-relevant field from an accredited U.S. college or university no more than 36 months prior to the start of Brown PREP.
  • You must not be enrolled in another degree program at the time the PREP program begins.
  • You must intend to apply to at least five doctoral programs, including Brown, during Brown PREP or within one year of beginning the program.

Application

Online application

The application components of the Brown PREP should include:

  1. Statement of purpose that describes a strong commitment to pursue biomedical research and doctoral level training including previous research experience, research interests (including specific names and departments of faculty you would like to work with) and why the Brown PREP program will enhance your chances of getting into a PhD graduate program;
  2. Two letters of recommendation that specifically address the applicant’s commitment to research and capacity for success in a research career; 
  3. Current resume or curriculum vitae (CV); and 
  4. Current transcripts to provide information on applicant’s academic preparation.

Deadline

Priority deadline is February 1st, however we will continue accepting applications on a rolling basis until the program is filled.

Application Opens

November 1, 2023

Questions? 

Email PREP@brown.edu.