Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program

UMass PREP

NOTICE TO UMASS PREP APPLICANTS

We will begin reviewing PREP applications for the 2023-2024 cohort on February 15 and continue until the six slots for this cohort are filled.

Our Support

PREP is funded by a grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) to PREP Faculty Coordinators: Drs. Shelly Peyton(Chemical Engineering), Lynmarie Thompson (Chemistry), and Heather Richardson (Psychological and Brain Sciences). Additional support is provided by the Models to Medicine Center of the UMass Institute for Applied Life Sciences.

What is Prep?

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.

What do we do?

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

Who should apply?

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

About UMass Amherst

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.

Meet The PREP Leadership Team

Sandra Petersen, Ph.D.

UMass PREP Founder/Advisor, Former Professor of Molecular Neuroendocrinology of Reproduction

Lynmarie Thompson, Ph.D.

Professor of Chemistry

Shelly Peyton, Ph.D.

Professor of Chemical Engineering

Heather Richardson, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences

Contact Us

Please email Carly Hutchinson, Ph.D., PREP Project Coordinator.

Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program
240 Thatcher Way
Life Sciences Laboratories, Room N235
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA 01003

DO NOT SEND Regular MAIL.

prepassist@umass.edu