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Writer's pictureAmanda L. Roberts, M.A.

NIH PREP is Creating Successful Biomedical Scientists to Diversify the Biomedical Workforce

Updated: Jul 29, 2019


Are you interested in taking advanced studies in Biomedical Science at a rewarding research-intensive university?


Have you received your 4-year baccalaureate degree in the past 3 years and NOT currently enrolled in graduate school?


If so, the National Institute of Health Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (NIH-PREP) is an excellent program that is designed to enhance your competitiveness to enter a rigorous doctoral programs. As a post-baccalaureate scientist, you will be involved in an independent research project that will allow you to experience the fulfillment of discovery as a scientist. You will learn to develop your own hypotheses and design experiments to test them in a supportive and favorable research environment.


In 2010 I was selected as a PREP scholar at University of Alabama at Birmingham PREP. Directed by Dr. Jeffery Engler, the PREP program was a career-enhancing opportunity for me to advance my academic writing, improve GRE test-taking skills, and enrich my quantitative and analytical skills through courses, lectures, workshops and seminars. In addition, I attended the 2010 Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) to present my biomedical research project while networking with scientists and graduate students.


My research mentor was Dr. John Hablitz, Professor of Neurobiology at UAB's Department of Neurobiology. In Dr Hablitz laboratory, I studied the changes in neuronal morphology and HCN1 expression in mouse model of cortical dysplasia. I presented my research via oral presentation at 2011 University of Alabama at Birmingham Graduate Research Day in Birmingham, AL and at the 2011 Marine Biological Laboratory-Summer Program In Neuroscience, Excellence, and Success (SPINES) Research Day in Woods Hole, MA.


Overall NIH PREP program at UAB has successfully prepared me to be an outstanding PhD student in the laboratories of Dr. Colleen McDowell and Dr. Abe Clark at the University of North Texas Health Science Center Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Here I am studying the molecular mechanisms responsible for glaucomatous environment within the trabecular meshwork of the eye at the North Texas Eye Research Institute in Fort Worth, Texas.


If you are interested in applying to the NIH PREP Program at UAB click here and contact the co-directors Dr. Bullard and Dr. Gavin.


Dan Bullard, PhD

Phone:205-934-7768


Cristin Gavin, PhD

cfgavin@uab.edu



If you are interested in other PREP sites click here.


Follow Amanda Roberts online:

Twitter: @3AmandaRoberts

Facebook: Science with Amanda Roberts

From left to right: Tiara Napier, MS; Jessica Thomas, PhD; Amanda Roberts MA; Crystal Lipsey MS; Evida Dennis MS; Harold Willis DDS; (not pictured: Starrisa Winters and Tamekia Lee)




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