Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) awards encourage students of under-represented groups who hold recent baccalaureate degrees to pursue doctorates in biomedical sciences. PREP participants work as apprentice scientists in laboratories and participate in professional development activities.

PREP is a one-year internship with the goal of strengthening participants' research skills and academic competitiveness for pursuit of a graduate degree.

The UMass PREP Program is unique in that it focuses on using interdisciplinary approaches to answer important scientific questions in fields such as:

• Chemistry
• Microbiology
• Molecular & Cellular Biology
• Neuroscience & Behavior
• Organismic & Evolutionary Biology
• Plant Biology
• Psychological & Brain Sciences
• Animal Biotechnology & Biomedical Sciences

You are an ideal candidate if you:

• Are seriously considering pursuing a biomedical Ph.D. degree
• Have received your baccalaureate degree within the last 36 months
• Are a US Citizen or permanent resident
• Are from an under-represented group

The flagship campus of the Commonwealth's University System.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a major research institution that offers outstanding faculty, state-of-the-art research facilities, and nationally recognized research centers.

Located on 1,450 acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, the campus provides a rich cultural environment in a rural setting and it's only 1.5 hours from Boston and 3 hours from New York City.

The Five-College Consortium, of which the University is a member (along with Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mt. Holyoke College, and Smith College) provides a wealth of cultural and academic events.